Salem, Ore. — At 1:00 p.m. on August 6, emergency personnel responded to the call of a collision involving the driver of car and a motorcyclist in the 1100 block of Cordon RD SE.
The initial investigation indicates the motorcycle rider was traveling northbound on Cordon RD SE when the driver of a car going southbound on Cordon RD made a left turn into a driveway. The motorcyclist collided with the right rear of the car causing it to spin into a third vehicle already stopped in the same driveway. Upon impact, the man driving the motorcycle was ejected from the motorbike. Speed appears to be a contributing factor in the crash.
The motorcyclist, identified as 48-year-old Brian Merrill, sustained critical injuries and was transported to Salem Health. Merrill succumbed to his injuries yesterday, August 7.
The driver of the car, Francisco Espinoza Sandoval, age 25, remained on scene and is cooperating with the investigation. Sandoval and the occupant of the third vehicle were not injured.
The roadway remained closed for approximately three hours for the scene investigation and clearing.
No citations have been issued or arrest made as the Salem Police Traffic Team investigation into the collision continues.
The Sunday afternoon incident is the eighth fatal collision investigated by the Traffic Team this year which have resulted in nine deaths.
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