Three Critically Injured in Highway 22 Crash

Local police refer to this stretch of highway west of Dallas as Blood Alley over the high number of serious crashes.

Serious crash west of Salem, Oregon Photo courtesy: Oregon State Police

(SALEM, Ore.) - Police say three people were critically injured Friday afternoon following a two-vehicle head-on crash on Highway 22 west of Dallas. Oregon State Police troopers are continuing the investigation, according to OSP Sergeant Bob Charpentier.

He says friday at approximately 2:17 p.m. a black Chevrolet HHR sport utility vehicle driven by 48-year old Jerry Dean Weber of Sheridan, was traveling westbound on Highway 22 near milepost 10.

For an unknown reason, the Chevrolet crossed the centerline and collided head-on with an eastbound white Ford Escape driven by 61-year old Roy Warner of Alberta, Canada.

Weber was transported to a Portland area hospital with critical injuries. Roy Warner and his wife, 61-year old Catherine Warner, were both critically injured. Roy Warner was transported to Oregon Health Sciences University and Catherine was transported to Legacy Emanuel Hospital.

All three were using safety restraints, Charpentier said.

OSP troopers from the Salem Area Command office are continuing the investigation.

Polk County Sheriff's Office, Dallas Fire Department and ODOT assisted at the scene, and Highways 22 was closed completely for one hour and then open to one lane until about 5:30 p.m.