Police: Crash victims 'tried to fight with the deputies'

By KATU.com Staff and News Sources Published: Dec 22, 2009 at 4:43 PM PST
Photo at the scene of Monday night's Hazelgreen Road accident
Photo at the scene of Monday night's Hazelgreen Road accident, provided by the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

SALEM, Ore. – A teen is in critical condition at a Salem hospital after a 2009 Kia holding five people smashed into a power pole and flipped on a country road outside of Salem.

Deputies say alcohol was involved. They also say that, while they were investigating the crash, the owner the Kia called Silverton Police and reported it had been stolen. Silverton Police are investigating that report.

Around 8:30 p.m. Monday, Marion County Deputies responded to the 7900 block of Hazelgreen Road NE regarding this single vehicle crash. Here are the details cited by a Marion County press release on the accident released Tuesday:

"According to witnesses and the Marion County Crash Team, a silver 4-door 2009 Kia was traveling westbound on Hazelgreen Road NE when it left the roadway. The vehicle hit a power pole, continued forward hitting a dirt embankment and flipped coming to rest on its top back on the roadway. 

"Four people inside the vehicle were injured and a fifth person was uninjured. When deputies and Marion County Fire District 1 arrived, several of the occupants became combative and attempted to interfere with deputies and medics on scene. They refused to comply with directives to ensure their safety and at times became extremely loud, vulgar and tried to fight with the deputies."

  • A 20-year-old male from Silverton was arrested for disorderly conduct and interfering with police. He was transported to the Marion County Jail.
  • A 20-year-old female, also from Silverton, was cited for disorderly conduct and interfering with police. She was transported to Salem Hospital for evaluation. 
  • The driver of the vehicle, a 23-year-old male from Silverton, was taken to Salem Hospital with injuries. 
  • Nineteen-year-old Jessica Smith of Silverton - a passenger in the car - was critically injured. She has been transferred from Salem Hospital to Oregon Health Sciences University.
  • One passenger, an 18-year-old female from Silverton, was uninjured and not cited. 

Marion County Crash Team investigators are continuing their investigation into the cause. Hazelgreen Road was closed in both directions for about 8 hours after the crash, reopening Tuesday morning.