Man dies; girl, 10, seriously injured in McMinnville crash
MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – A man died and his 10-year-old passenger was seriously injured Tuesday night in a head-on crash east of McMinnville.
The crash happened at about 9:40 p.m. on Highway 18 about two miles east of McMinnville. A 30-year-old driver of a Chevrolet cavalier was driving west when his car cross the centerline, colliding with a Freightliner truck pulling two trailers, according to a news bulletin from the Oregon State Police.
The Chevrolet’s driver, Charles Salinas, died at the scene. A young girl in the car, Araceli Salinas, was transported by ambulance to Willamette Valley Medical Center. She was in the hospital's intensive care unit later in the morning.
The 44-year-old driver of the truck, Dale Boekhoff, also was injured and taken to the hospital. He was treated and released.
OSP troopers were investigating on Wednesday morning what caused the Chevrolet driver to cross the centerline. No details have been released.
The truck’s fuel tanks spilled diesel fuel on the roadway, requiring a lengthy cleanup by transportation officials and a hazmat crew.
The highway, closed for seven hours following the crash, reopened at about 5:30 a.m.
when i heard this story i was crying because my best friend Araceli. i hope she is well :(
Rain-X and water makes it terribly hard to see when lights approach. They form a glare over the whole windshield.
Some areas around there are really nasty, headlights can really be annoying, especially if you're in a car and the oncoming vehicle is a truck Hope the little girl is going to be OK.
Adult/child crashes are up this week. How sad that kids have to be involved with these accidents.Â
I understand what you mean. Yes, it is too bad all around. Especially for the kids who are involved or killed.
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@Lindsey Kardashium @washcomom ?
this is very sad. Maybe the guy was overly tired, who knows. I just hope it wasn't due to a phone call, those can always wait. At any rate, I hope the little girl and the driver of the other vehicle pull through. Much love to the friends and family.
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Unless he kidnapped her? I looked over the story a couple of times, and it did not mention kidnapping at all.
Not sure which story you are reading
@Just Lookin
The police don't always think of everything and occasionally ask the public for help.Â
Thinking outside the box is never wrong.