Salem Restaurant Employee Struck and Killed in I-5

Fatal Vehicle / Pedestrian Crash - Interstate 5 southbound in Salem/Keizer Area‏

Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregon State Police troopers are investigating a fatal morning pedestrian-involved crash southbound Interstate 5 in the Keizer/Salem area. Preliminary investigation indicates on March 18, 2010 at 5:44 a.m. a 2000 GMC Yukon driven by 61-year old Larry M. Bennett of Woodinville, Washington was southbound on Interstate 5 near milepost 259 in the middle lane when it struck a male pedestrian who appeared to be trying to cross the freeway from the west to east.

After the first collision, the drivers of four other vehicles reported also running over the struck pedestrian identified as 44-year old Dale Allen Underwood of Oregon City.

Mr Underwood was pronounced deceased at the scene. The severity of the injuries after being struck by at least five vehicles required closure of the southbound lanes for the investigation and removal of the victim. The southbound lanes were closed about three hours.

Part of the ongoing investigation includes trying to determine why Mr. Underwood was in the area of Interstate 5. No associated vehicle was found near the freeway. He was employed at a Keizer-area restaurant not near the freeway.

OSP troopers from the Salem Area Command office are continuing the investigation. No photographs to be released.

ODOT and Salem Fire Department assisted at the scene.

OSP would like to talk to anyone who had contact with Mr. Underwood in the hours before this incident.

Anyone with helpful information related to this investigation is asked to call Trooper Joseph Skipper at (503) 378-3387 ext. 32000.