DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. – A teen is dead and a truck driver is behind bars facing charges after a Monday afternoon crash in Oregon.
On Monday, at 3 p.m., Oregon State Police (OSP) says it responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash on Interstate 5 near milepost 90 in Douglas County.
According to an OSP press release, the preliminary investigation indicated a white Freightliner commercial motor vehicle hauling a loaded trailer, operated by Brenden Larry Christensen, 61, of San Diego, Calif., had stalled on an uphill grade in the outside lane while traveling northbound on I-5 near Canyonville. The stalled Freightliner was struck by a maroon Honda CRV, operated by Davin Jack Smith, 18, of El Sobrante, Calif., causing the Honda and cargo in the Freightliner to catch fire. The CMV had stalled several times before the collision while climbing the grade.
Davin Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.
Honda passengers, Lawrence Wayne Smith, Jr., 60, father of the deceased, and Annika Jace Smith, 18, twin sister of the deceased, both of El Sobrante, Calif., were transported by air ambulance to area hospitals with serious injuries.
Honda passenger, Ivan Amadeo Gonzalez, 19, family friend, of Hercules, Calif., was transported to an area hospital by ground ambulance with reported minor injuries.
Christensen was not injured. Impairment is believed to be a contributing factor in the crash and Christensen was arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII) and manslaughter.
The highway was impacted for approximately three hours during the on-scene investigation.
Bruce Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has lived in three states including Arkansas, Missouri and Georgia. During his nearly 20-year career, Bruce has served as managing editor and sports editor for numerous publications. He and his wife, Dana, who is also a journalist, are based in Carrollton, Georgia.
