Salem Police Officer Injured in Crash With Semi Truck

Officer Smith's canine, Jett, was not injured.

Images of the crash this morning involving Officer Steve Smith, shown in bottom photo with his canine Jett. Photos courtesy: Salem Police

(SALEM, Ore.) - A Salem Police Canine Officer sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries in a collision with a semi truck at about 5:15 a.m. this morning.

Smith and Jett

Officer Steve Smith was driving southbound in the left lane of Commercial St SE near Owens Street SE when his vehicle was struck by the semi truck.

Salem Police Lt. Dave Okada says it appears as though the semi truck was also southbound on Commercial Street either in the right or center lane and was attempting to make a wide left (east) turn onto Owens St when the front of the truck impacted with the side of the patrol car.

"The incident was called in by another motorist, as Officer Smith's injuries prevented him from doing so," Okada said.

Officer Smith, who is 38 years old and is a fifteen year veteran of the Salem Police Department, was transported to Salem Hospital where he was admitted with non-life threatening injuries.

Officer Smith's canine, Jett, was not injured.

The driver of the semi, 50-year old Ezequiel Quevedo of California, was not injured and is being cited for Improper Turn At A Stop Light with a bail of $320 and Falsifying a Log Book with a bail of $367.

The incident is being investigated by the Salem Police Department Traffic Control Unit and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

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