Deputy Hit By Car While on Traffic Stop

Justin Kinyon, with the Marion County Sheriff's Office, was fortunate to escape serious injury.

Photo: Marion County Sheriff's Office

(SALEM) - "I was sitting in my car filling out a citation and suddenly I was thrown forward." These are the words of Deputy Justin Kinyon who was struck by another vehicle while conducting a traffic stop on Lancaster Dive NE near Glendale Avenue NE at about 1:00 p.m., yesterday.

Deputy Kinyon was pulled to the right in his fully marked patrol car with his emergency lights activated. According to witnesses, Mohammed Ali, age 53, of Salem was driving his Ford, Windstar van in the right hand lane as he approached Deputy Kinyon's traffic stop. Mr. Ali attempted to move over into the left lane to go around the traffic stop but did not see the vehicle beside him.

This forced the second vehicle into the turn lane and Mr. Ali took evasive action to avoid hitting the second vehicle. Mr. Ali over corrected and crashed into Deputy Kinyon. Thankfully neither Deputy Kinyon nor Mr. Ali were seriously injured in the collision.

An investigation of the crash was completed by Marion County Traffic Safety Team Sergeant Craig Cunningham. As a result of his actions Mr. Ali was issued a citation for driving without a license and careless driving. Mr. Ali was operating his vehicle with an instruction permit and not a valid Oregon license. Deputy Kinyon did not return to duty after the crash and Mr. Ali was taken to the Salem Hospital for evaluation.

Sergeant Cunningham wants to take time and remind drivers that when you encounter an emergency vehicle on the side of the roadway with its emergency lights activated please follow these simple steps. Please, slow your vehicle by at least five miles per hour and move to the left if there is another lane available and that lane is clear, failure to do so could result in a fine of $260.00.

According to Sergeant Cunningham this law was enacted after an Oregon State Trooper was killed while on a traffic stop on Interstate 5 just south of Salem approximately 10 years ago.

News Release from Marion Co. Sheriff's Office