Salem Police Department – 03/28/22 2:10 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Update 03/28/2022 | 5:00 p.m.
All family notifications have been completed. Our sincerest thanks to the public for their help in connecting investigators with Mr. Beck’s family. The assistance was greatly appreciated.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Update 03/28/2022 | 2:00 p.m.
The people killed as a result of the crash incident are identified as Jowand Beck, age 24; Luke Kagey, age 21; Joe Posada III, age 54; and Rochelle Zamacona, age 29.
The individuals injured are identified as Derrick Hart, age 43, and Savaanah Miller, age 18. Mr. Hart and Ms. Miller are still hospitalized.
Family members of the victims have received notification with the exception of one person, Jowand Beck. Investigators have made every possible attempt to find Mr. Beck’s family but have not succeeded in locating anyone. If you know Mr. Beck’s family or have a way to contact them, please call the Salem Police Traffic Team at 503-588-6293.
Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack shared the following statement, “Sunday’s crash was such a tragic incident. The members of our Traffic Team did a tremendous job of quickly working through the investigation to make an arrest and in our effort to bring justice to the victims and their families. Our department will continue working with our social service partners and supporting them in any way possible as we move forward together with our community.”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Update 03/27/2022 | 6:00 p.m.
Based on the investigation conducted by the Salem Police Traffic Team, the driver of the vehicle involved in the crash incident, Enrique Rodriguez, Jr., age 24, was arrested on the following charges:
- Manslaughter in the first degree, four counts
- Assault in the second degree
- Assault in the third degree
- Reckless endangerment, six counts
Rodriguez is lodged at the Marion County Jail and as such, all further inquiries concerning this case must be directed to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Update 03/27/2022 | 3:30 p.m.
The preliminary investigation by the Salem Police Traffic Team suggests the driver of a two-door sports coupe was traveling northbound on Front ST passing Union ST when the vehicle left the roadway and crashed into an unsheltered encampment pinning two individuals beneath the car. The camp was located at the corner where Front ST NE intersects with the Front ST business route known as OR99E.
Two individuals died at the scene. Four people from the encampment were transported to Salem Health with life-threatening injuries, two of whom later died at the hospital. The driver, and sole occupant of the vehicle, was also transported for medical treatment.
The exact number of individuals and tents at the encampment is not known.
Officers helped several uninjured campers collect some of their belongings and provided shelter assistance. Three individuals were taken to a local motel. The City of Salem’s homeless advocacy partners were also contacted in an effort to get the members of our unsheltered community connected to needed resources as a result this tragedy.
No arrests have been made at this point; however, the Salem Police Traffic Team is actively investigating the circumstances and believe alcohol may have been a contributing factor.
None of the individuals involved are being named pending notification to family members. We do not have any updated information on the condition of the survivors of the crash.
We wish to extend our thanks to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Keizer Police Department for their assistance in handling emergency calls in the city during that time period which allowed Salem Police personnel to focus resources to the incident.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: March 27, 2022
CONTACT: Salem Police Department Communications Office
Driver crashes into homeless encampment
Multiple fatalities in tragic incident
Salem, Ore. — At approximately 2:00 a.m. this morning, March 27, 2022, emergency responders from the Salem Police and Fire Departments responded to the scene of a motor vehicle crash into a homeless encampment in the area of Front and Division Streets NE.
Two individuals died at the scene. Four people from the encampment were transported to Salem Health with life-threatening injuries, two of whom later died at the hospital.
The driver of the involved vehicle was also transported by ambulance.
Front ST is closed between Union and D STS. Division ST is closed between Union and Commercial. Expect these closures to remain in place for the next several hours as the Salem Police Traffic Team investigates the incident.
No names of any of the individuals involved are being released at this time. Additional information will be released when available.
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