Crash Occurs Near Stop – I5 North Of Santiam River
Oregon State Police (OSP) is continuing the investigation into Thursday afternoon’s non-injury crash involving a commercial truck and pickup in the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 near the Santiam River south of Salem. The crash happened near the area where a trooper was conducting a traffic stop that later led to the arrest of two people on marijuana-related charges.
Today at approximately 12:36 p.m. an OSP senior trooper stopped a 1956 GMC bus displaying Idaho license plates northbound on Interstate 5 near milepost 242 for a vehicle license violation. During the stop the trooper was inside the bus speaking to driver Charles G. Page, age 62, and passenger Blossom Masters, age 52, both from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho when he heard a commercial truck lose control. The truck crashed with a pickup before jackknifing and blocking all northbound lanes.
OSP troopers from Salem and Albany offices, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, ODOT and Jefferson Fire Department responded to the scene. The truck driver and pickup driver were not injured.
Preliminary crash investigation indicates at 12:54 p.m. a Freightliner truck pulling a semi-trailer driven by Michael A. Solomon, age 52, from West Fargo, North Dakota, was northbound approaching the traffic stop location when the truck and trailer changed lanes to the left. As other traffic slowed, the truck crashed into the rear of a 2007 Ford F150 pickup driven by Linda S. Hall, age 50, from Springfield. Following initial impact, the truck and semi-trailer jackknifed and the pickup collided with the semi-trailer. The truck then collided into the center concrete barrier before coming to a stop across the northbound lanes.
Solomon and Hall were not injured. The northbound lanes were closed about 3 hours before the truck and trailer could be removed.
Subsequent investigation related to the initial traffic stop led to the discovery of nearly 1/2 pounds of marijuana and a small amount of hashish in the bus. Page and Masters were both arrested by OSP and lodged in the Marion County Jail for Unlawful Possession and Delivery of a Controlled Substance — Marijuana.
News Release and Photos from: Oregon State Police
