On June 2, 2019 at approximately 11:30 p.m., the Salem Police and Salem Fire Departments responded to the area of Salem Parkway and Cherry AV NE on the report of a collision. Officers arrived to find a white Toyota Camry and a black Jeep Wrangler off of the roadway.
The initial investigation indicates the Jeep was travelling northeast on Salem Parkway at a high rate of speed when it ran the red light at Cherry AV NE and collided with the Toyota travelling southeast.
All three of the Toyota occupants, Trinity Watt age 19 of Salem, Madison Capobianco age 19 of Salem and Makayla Tryon age 18 of Keizer, were pronounced deceased at the scene.
The driver of the Jeep, Juan Carlos Rodriguez Palacios age 25 of Salem, and a passenger remained at the scene until they were transported to Salem Health for treatment.
Rodriguez Palacios was subsequently arrested on the following charges: Three counts of Manslaughter in the First Degree, four counts of Reckless Endangering Another Person, one count of Assault in the Third Degree, one count of Reckless Driving and Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. Rodriguez Palacios’ blood alcohol content was 0.239 percent when tested, almost three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent. He has been lodged at the Marion County Correctional Facility and will appear that the Marion County Circuit Court Annex June 4, 2019, at 3:00 p.m. for an arraignment.
Any further information will be released by the Marion County District Attorney’s Office.
