Three people are dead and several more are recovering at area hospitals after what’s being described as a “high-impact” two-vehicle collision in Salem Friday evening.
The crash occurred at approximately 7:23 p.m. on Cordon Road NE near Sunnyview and involved a T-bone collision between a Ford F-350 pickup and a Chevrolet passenger van.
The van had 13 people in it, later identified as a group of Christmas tree workers from Guatemala, ranging in age up to 64 years old. Three were pronounced dead at the scene, while two remain in critical condition. One passenger in the Ford was also transported to the hospital for injuries.
Police later identified two of the fatalities as 41-year-old Andres Alonzo-Canil and 39-year-old Miguel Alonzo-Lucas. The third has yet to be positively identified.
Investigators from the Marion County CRASH team say the Chevy made a left hand turn in front of the F-350, which resulted in the collision. Additional investigation will be conducted over the coming days. Both drivers survived and are cooperating with investigators.
The drivers involved in the collision have been cooperative with investigators, police say. Pablo Gaspar-Ezequiel, 35, was driving the Chevrolet passenger van. The driver of the F-350 was Cory Kudna, 18.
Deputies continue to investigate the events leading up to the collision. Once the investigation is complete, it will be forwarded to and reviewed by the Marion County District Attorney’s Office.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Salem Police Department, Keizer Police Department, Marion County Fire District #1, Marion County Public Works, Marion County District Attorney’s Office, Falck Ambulance, Woodburn Fire District and Crisis Chaplaincy Services.