Driver dies after crashing into Salem church
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SALEM, Ore. -- One person died Saturday night after his car crashed into a Salem church.
The driver was reportedly speeding on Fairgrounds Road Northeast, traveling across the intersection at Hood Street before he hit the Salem Alliance Church.
Church officials had to move its fourth- and fifth-grade Sunday school classes.
The children's pastor said the building has been hit at least four times in the same spot, largely due to the five-way intersection where Fairgrounds Road meets Hood and Church streets.
"Every time, it's like not again, not again ... don't run into the building," said Tim Hauck, a pastor at the church.
The driver was Albany resident Eduardo Maza-Meraz, 33, who was driving a 2002 Chevy Tahoe. No one else was injured in the crash.
BenjaminJLight.. thank you its been very hard he is very well missed by his wife and 4 children and so many others, we are taking it one day at a time god can heal prayer is strong people need to think before they judge only god can do that....
I should be surprised by the callousness of people nowadays, but I think I'm becoming desensitized to human indifference...
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Eduardo was someone's husband, son, father, uncle... and now he's dead. It's not a time for jokes, or to be a comedian, there are small children who are now spending their first Thanksgiving without their Father. That is not a joking matter.
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What's sad about the current age that we're living in, is the complete heartlessness of people, and the fact that the internet gives every idiot a voice. It's amazing what people will say when they're hiding behind the internet, and it's pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. They should be ashamed of themselves, but the sad fact is - they're proud of it.Â
Kristilyn, Mamaof2, I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope you can find comfort as time passes, nothing anyone can say will fix it, but time heals all wounds.Â
You know people should think about their comments and jokes this is a family member who will be missed greatly. Hes far from stupid we all make mistakes this one cost him his life . He was a wonderful husband, father, and friend. He never judged anyone for their mistakes.He had a huge heart and could bring a smile to anyone no matter what mood they were in. He always made me laugh and be in a better mood whenever i saw him or his wife. Rest In Peace Lalo !!!!
* Sigh *
Sad situation for the driver's family and for the church, but the blame for this accident lies with the driver, not the intersection. Thousands of vehicles pass through this area every year without hitting the church, so why expect the government needs to do something to protect people from their own stupidity?Â
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I knew a family whose home was in the middle of an "S"-curve of a major road. Their house was struck by a vehicle one time. After that incident, they strategically placed large rocks across the front of their property, rocks big enough to absorb the impact of a speeding vehicle. They even whitewashed the rocks to make them highly visible to drivers. The rocks were struck several times over the years, but the house was never hit again.
Well, now that someone is dead maybe government will do something about the problem.
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That's what it takes for government to respond. There has to be a sacrificial lamb.
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It's pretty clear that signs will not work. There are stop signs, speeding signs, arrows and white lines at the stop sign. In this case the guy was speeding, ignoring the speed limit signs, ran through the intersection, ignoring the stop signs and ran into the church, ignoring the arrows.
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This tells me he ignored the signs or was suicidal, or was DUII, or couldn't read English, or just plain stupid, or all of the above
 @RalphCramden thats wrong to say about a family member that has passed away he knows english  and is far from stupid a wonderful person full of life loved life and his wife and kids he will be missed greatly he was a person who never judged anyone.
 @kristilyn arnoldÂ
He was speeding and ran a stop sign at the very least. Not the picture of a smart and wonderful guy you paint him out to be.
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At least he was the only one to die and didn't take anyone else with him.
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I judge people all the time and so does everyone else. Get used to it.
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I can's disagree with you about him being missed. In that I have no doubt.
 @kristilyn arnoldÂ
So he was drinking?
 @RalphCramden  @kristilyn arnold i dont mind about the facts but i feel its not something to make jokes about we all have made mistakes.Even if he was drinking n speeding and yes thank God no one else was hurt.
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 @kristilyn arnold It is not wrong to state the facts as RalphCramden did... the guy was SPEEDING. I feel for his family on their loss but this was clearly preventable.
At least he ended up in good hands!Â
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 @MillersTaleÂ
He crashed into an Allstate insurance company.
Churches are tax exempt mindless killing machines....WITH NO SOULS.
 @Karla Readsalot And you're a brainless commenting machine.
At least churches have a purpose.
 @Karla Readsalot A bicycle because a vest has no sleeves.Â
@JerkyBob @Karla Readsalot ok, I know I still need coffee,
but karla wrote "Churches are tax exempt mindless killing machines....WITH NO SOULS."
jerkeybob wrote "A bicycle because a vest has no sleeves."
 What am I missing? What is the connection?
ok, explain to me the conection betweenyour coment "
Churches are tax exempt mindless killing machines....WITH NO SOULS." and jerkeybob's "A bicycle because a vest has no sleeves. "
please enlighten me.
@iamtroglodite     What you're missing is an IQ over 17
Oh, sure, blame it on the intersection and the churches positiion. God knows it can't be the dumb-a-s-s drivers speedind around that corner. The city aparently wasted money putting up speed limit signs if nobody is going to read them.
 @iamtroglodite ~  Um-hmm... I've driven on that street many, many times... if you pay any attention at all to the speed limit signs, that intersection is no worse than any other one.  Â
puede estar en paz Eduardo le encanta y lo mismo ocurre con su esposa y sus hijos, usted será extrañado por muchos Te amo ... TQM primo
may you be at peace Eduardo we love you and so does your wife and your children you will be missed by so many I love you...T.Q.M primoÂ
You'd think the church would figure out that it might be wise to put in some barriers to keep cars from hitting the church.
 @ab It's a church, and each time someone hits the church they make money.. Churches are all about money, they don't care about anything except money.. They would even trash God for money.
Like the sign in my hood by the largest church, 'We have saved a place just for you.'
Drive up funeral, anyone?
Holy death
The church is so big you can't miss it.
 @swimbad People are dying to get in.