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A devastating multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 in western Oregon has led to the arrest of semitruck driver, Lincoln Clayton Smith, 52, of North Highlands, California.
The accident resulted in the death of 7 individuals, making it one of the most fatal accidents in the state's recent history. Smith is facing multiple charges, including manslaughter, DUI, and assault, according to the Oregon State Police.
The accident occurred last Thursday near Albany in the Willamette Valley. Witnesses reported Smith's truck swerving in and out of the northbound lanes of I-5 before slamming into a passenger van that was parked by the roadside. The force of the collision pushed the van into the back of another truck parked ahead.
A total of eleven individuals were in the van at the time of the accident. Tragically, six of them died at the scene, while another succumbed to their injuries at the hospital after being airlifted. Four other passengers were injured, but details regarding their current condition have yet to be released.
Smith was arraigned on Friday and is currently held without bail at Marion County Jail. At his arraignment, the district attorney revealed that Smith refused a field sobriety test and seemed unable to focus or answer basic questions. In addition to this, he had reportedly admitted to taking "speed" the day before the crash and was found in possession of methamphetamine.
This accident, unfortunately, adds to a history of fatal collisions in Oregon. In 2018, a head-on collision in Harney County led to the death of a family of seven. In 2012, a tour bus carrying about 40 passengers veered off the icy Interstate 84, leading to the death of nine individuals. Another I-5 crash near Albany in 1988 resulted in the death of 7 individuals and injured 37 more.
While the investigation into this most recent tragedy continues, the mourning families and community members in Oregon and beyond are left grappling with their loss.
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