Head-On Crash at Chemawa Road Causes Critical Injuries

Police say alcohol may have been a factor in the head-on collision that closed a freeway exit ramp on I-5 for two hours.

Photo Courtesy: Oregon State Police

(KEIZER) - Two people were seriously injured early Monday morning in a two car head-on crash that police say involved a wrong way driver on the Interstate 5 northbound exit ramp at the Chemawa interchange at Keizer.

The freeway exit ramp was closed about two hours and Oregon State Police troopers say they are investigating alcohol as a possible contributing factor.

Investigators say that around 4:10 AM, a 1989 Acura was southbound on the northbound off-ramp of Interstate 5 near milepost 260 when it crashed head-on with a 1993 Ford Taurus.

A witness reported to an investigating OSP trooper that the Acura was traveling at a high rate of speed moments before the crash.

The Acura's driver, 55-year old Abraham Perez-Davalos of Salem, was transported to Salem Memorial Hospital with critical injuries that will require him to be taken by LifeFlight to Oregon Health Sciences University.

The Ford's driver, 51-year old Kimberly O. Smith of Coquille, was transported to Salem Memorial Hospital with serious injuries.

Both drivers were using safety restraints and each vehicle's airbag deployed.

Oregon State Police troopers from the Salem Area Command office are continuing the investigation. Marion County Sheriff's Office and District Attorney's Office assisted.