Dark Clothing and Alcohol - Factors in Weekend Pedestrian Crash

The young man was struck on Lancaster Blvd. NE.

Video and photo by Jerry Freeman Salem-News.com

(SALEM) - Salem Police responded to a pedestrian versus car traffic crash at Lancaster Dr. NE & Sunnyview Rd. NE late Saturday.

On male adult pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and was transported to Salem Hospital with life threatening injuries, Salem Police stated in a news release.

The vehicle involved and driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.

Both lanes of southbound Lancaster Dr. NE traffic were closed at Sunnyview Rd. NE while investigators tended to the victim and evaluated the scene.

The pedestrian involved has been identified as 22-year old Jonathan B. Curtis, of the Salem-Keizer area. His condition has been upgraded to non-life threatening injuries. Alcohol appears to be involved, Salem Police said.

The driver of the vehicle involved has been identified as 42-year old Menthy Maras of Salem. Maras had been operating a 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix and was not injured in the accident.

Preliminary investigation indicates that Maras was traveling southbound in the left lane of Lancaster Dr. NE, just south of Sunnyview Rd. NE when Curtis ran in front of Maras's vehicle, crossing in a west to east direction. Curtis was dressed in dark clothing. Maras attempted to avoid striking Curtis, but was unable to.

The Traffic Control Unit investigation is continuing.

Traffic lanes on Lancaster Dr. NE were cleared and back to the normal traffic pattern by early Sunday.