Hit-and-run victim: 'I was yelling to help us'
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GERVAIS, Ore. – Marion County sheriff’s deputies are searching for a man who they said ran away from the scene of a three-car crash near Gervais Monday night while the injured victims were yelling for help.
It happened on Howell Prairie Rd. and Mount Angel-Gervais Road NE about one mile east of Gervais, according to sheriff’s office spokesman Don Thomson.
Crash victim Guadalupe Santos-Montes, 25, spoke with KATU News from his Salem hospital bed Tuesday. He said he was helping his stranded sister-in-law jump-start her car, which was on the side of Howell Prairie Road, when a Dodge Caravan slammed into both cars.
Santos-Montes found himself underneath her car screaming for help while the hot exhaust burned his arm.
Deputies said the driver and a passenger of the van got out and ran away from the scene. Santos-Montes said he saw them get out of the van.
"I saw his leg from where I was and he was standing there," said Santos-Montes through an interpreter. "I was yelling to help us. An then I didn't see them any longer. Then I was able to come out."
Deputies said evidence inside the van suggests both the driver and passenger suffered head injuries in the crash. They also found several open alcoholic containers inside the van.
"When I'm driving out here I just gotta watch it all the time," said Santos-Montes. "There's just too much going on."
His wife, 21-year-old Iris Hernandez, was also seriously injured in the crash. She was taken to OHSU in Portland for treatment. Their 3-year-old son was in his car seat during the crash and was not hurt.
26-year-old Florencia Hernandez-Bautista, Santos-Montes' sister-in-law, was treated and released from the hospital.
The suspect driver and passenger have not been found. Deputies said the van is registered to a Gervais resident.
Anyone with information about the crash or the driver is asked to call the Marion County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 503-540-8079.
I don't care about the immigration status of any of the people in this story, although I am against illegal immigration. It has nothing to do with the story, though. This is a human being, who was harmed and left to possibly die on the road. A person. With a family. A wife and a son. Have some compassion for a fellow human.
Poor guy! He didn't deserve this. He was doing no harm. I hope the stupid people in the van get caught and charged with attempted murder! He looks like he's in a lot of pain! :(
KATU put "through an interpreter" in this story to stir up the pot and shame on those who buy into it and spread hate and discrimination. If the people are not here legally, it doesn't appear that they are too worried about being noticed since they are releasing their names, talking to reporters, cooperating with police, etc. Legal status has NOTHING to do with this situation. If they are here legally, I hope you all feel sick after the comments you have made. These people do not deserve what happened to them, bottom line.Â
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Whether he speaks English or not it should have been extremley obvious that he needed help. I'm no fan of illegal aliens sneaking into our country (assuming he is one) but to hit and run and leave someone in distress is still a horrible thing to do.
 @MattyPDX People who have done nothing wrong, don't flee from an "accident". I'm sure we probably won't hear the rest of this story, but I would guess the person driving had reason to flee.Â
Note the closing of my previous post...
 @MattyPDX and I see you only believe in free speech as long as you agree with it and it doesn't possibly hurt someone's feelings.
KATU subscribes to those one sided values also.
@Owt_Raged
I see your post was deleted, and it should have been, but your comment had nothing to do with the person who fled the scene. You indicted the injured man for being an illegal and not knowing English. Again, whether he was legal or not, it's not cool to leave him crying out in pain. You thought he deserved it, which he doesnât.
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@Owt_Raged @MattyPDX "have a reason to flee" Recently there was a news story about a Marion County Sheriffs Deputy that was killed in 1997 by an ILLEGAL in a MV situation, the illegal fled back to mexico, will not be extradited but IF captured will be tried in a mexican court. Wanna bet he is now a policeman in mexico.
I'm happy their little one was in a car seat. What awful people to hurt someone and leave the scene. Good wishes for a fast recovery for Mr. Santos-Montes.
Deputies said evidence inside the van suggests both the driver and passenger suffered head injuries in the crash. They also found several open alcoholic containers inside the van."
The police have the van, and if the people have injuries, It's my guess it won't take long for the police to find them.
The illegal Invasion has caused significant damage to Arizona. Broken state, ruined economy, many stolen vehicles, stolen identities, broken homes, drug problems . If you think that it can't happen to you, or to your state, think again. You are next. Google this: NUMBERSUSA . Once you are registered, go to the "action board" to send free faxes to your state representative. They are all typed up and ready to go, you just need to click your mouse to send.
 @BobRooneyAL What does your comment have to do with an article about people being hit on the side of the road because they are trying to jumpstart their car? It sounds like you are defending the drunken drivers who caused this. Maybe you did it?
wonder if the van wa unregistered or stolen
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 @franksbeans So tired of this garbage on KATU forums. Everywhere frankly. Regardless of the victim's status as a citizen or a resident.... it doesn't appear he was running people down in his car and he had his kid in a car seat. Oh wait, you're probably cheering for the real criminals here, the hit and run drivers. Sick.
 @franksbeans seriously?
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 @B Smizzle Yes, the irony is so delicious you must be smiling at your computer thinking about the pain of others. Sick.
@B Smizzle .....delicious??? Not to damn compassionate are you! Nobody like the immigration problem. Nobody like human suffering. Except maybe you.
 @B Smizzle what about this story suggested it was an illegal person driving that van? All it suggested is that the people were possibly intoxicated and probably injured.
Totally cold & inhuman...to crash into a car, get out and stand there listening while people are screaming for help, then just split without even trying to help them...Â
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Even with a language barrier, it's pretty easy to tell when someone's screaming in pain and fear.. there's just NO excuse for going off and leaving injured people like that..!Â
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I hope Mr Santos-Montes and his family members get well quickly... so glad they had their little boy in a proper car-seat!Â
through an interpreter. "I was yelling to help us...
Perhaps the person that crashed into them did not understand what they were saying.
Totally wrong to leave the scene, they will get caught and arrested though.
 @Just Lookin Wow, lots of hateful garbage on here tonight. This website forum gets progressively more hateful. Shame on you. Shame on KATU for all this garbage on here.
toomanytrolls....shame on you...
It is not hateful, just truthful actually. As they needed an interpreter, perhaps the people could not understand.
No matter which way it goes, those that caused the accident and left the scene are wrong
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@TooManyTrolls @Just Lookin Well troll, think about this for just a minute. One just happens to be in the US illegally which is a crime and then one is involved in a situation such as this and requires major medical care. WHY should the US taxpayers be liable for the medical care of someone who has no legal right to be here.....The majority of US citizens do not want illegals in the US.
 @Just Lookin I could be wrong, but cries of pain sound the same in just about every language. I think its pretty safe to assume the driver knew the guy screaming under the car needed help.
Suspect description and name of registered owner noticeably absent.
 @Rob C They're probably white citizens.
I hope Guadalupe gets well soon and that the police catch the b**tard that hit him.
karma at its best
Much appreciation to KATU for deleting the ignorant racist comments.
@tigress So lets see what is "racist" when one asks who is going to pay for the medical care or if an individual is in the US legally???? Asking legal status or who is paying the medical bills is just that are you legally entitle to be here and have the necessary insurance to pay for your medical care.......I have the insurance and am in the US legally.
 @FreerideNOT It's not coming directly out of your pocket so why does it matter? That really isn't the point of the story. And to answer your question about what is "racist" well i hate to say it.... the racist part is everyone knows that if the victim was white YOU would not have asked the question.... And could you possibly explain to us what your screen name means to you? Thank you.
@mister "its not coming directly out of your pocket so why does it matter" Well think about this it is my tax dollars that are being diverted to care for someone that is presumably NOT a US Citizen and more than likely NOT in the US legally......I would feel the same way if the person in this story were from any other country and getting a freeride off of the taxpayers....The victims in this case are the taxpayers that have to foot the bill for this guy and the others like him.
@FreerideNOT Well lucky you. How many million American's are without health care? You are also lucky to afford insurance or have a job that covers it. We are not all so lucky and I love how you assume a lot of information, some people do have work visa's and green cards and not all speak good english. For that matter most US residents can't speak "good english". Interpreters are need so there was no misunderstanding or quotes that are not correct. If I were a reporter I would seek and interpreter also.
@justme Well there is always OHP for those US citizens in Oregon that don't have insurance. H2a short term agricultural permits are available for those that want to do things legally but then that is to difficult for those that want to be here illegally and take advantage of the US taxpayers.
 @FreerideNOT  @tigressÂ
I don't know what "racist" comments @tigress is referring to because they were gone before I read the comments, but I wonder if the question of a person's citizenship/legal status would even be asked if the subject of the story wasn't hispanic?
mister,,yes, have left Oregon, have left the U.S.. Each country I served in, we made it a habit to at least try to learn the language.
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If they were russian or german or another language, they still needed an interpreter. End of story
 @Just Lookin hispanic, mexican, ecuadorian, peruvian etc...... so by "etc" you mean Russian, middle eastern, asian, german.french and all others who need an interpreter right? seems like you think the only people in this great country who needs an interpreter are hispanics. have you ever left oregon?Â
 @Just Lookin and @FreerideNOT
I agree that many people are here illegally, but to assume that someone is an illegal based on their use of an interpreter is short-sighted.
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I speak rudimentary Spanish, that is enough Spanish to get buy in a pinch, but not enough where I would want a news station interviewing me without the aid of an interpreter.
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I still wonder whether or not we would even be having this discussion if the people in the story weren't hispanic. That question has yet to be answered.
Hispanic who does not speak english though. They needed an interpreter. Which means they may or may not be in the country legally. If legally, they could have perhaps taken the time to learn the language.
It does not matter hispanic, mexican, ecuadorian, peruvian etc. They do not speak english.
The question seemed to be who would pay? Not that it really matters, as the hospital is required to give care anyway. The driver who fled the scene should be liable for all bills
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 @A74R1 Or they had no license, or the vehicle was stolen, or they had warrants, or they were DUII, or they had or were committing a crime, or they were just plain stupid, or they were illegal.
Why no desciption of the suspects?
 @Slappy Lipshtien The way I read the article, the injured man only saw their legs, since he was under the vehicle.
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@Glenn Pierce Uh...What?