Salem Man Faces Homicide Charge Over Fatal Crash

The crash that claimed the life of Dallas woman happened on Highway 22W west of Salem.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregon State Police, working in conjunction with the Polk County District Attorney's Office, is continuing the investigation into a Friday afternoon three vehicle crash on Highway 22W west of Salem that resulted in the death of a 52-year old Dallas-area woman. One driver was taken into custody and was lodged this morning on multiple charges at Polk County Jail.

OSP Spokesman Lt. Gregg Hastings says the preliminary investigation indicates that Friday at approximately 5:20 pm, a silver 2000 Ford Mustang driven by 27-year old Martin Martinez-Aguilar of Salem, was in the center continuous left turn lane on Highway 22W near the intersection of Oak Grove Road NW near milepost 20.

"The Ford Mustang attempted to drive from the continuous left turn lane across both eastbound lanes and was struck in the right rear by an eastbound tan 1996 Saturn driven by 52-year old Barbara Jean Bier of Dallas," Hastings said.

After the initial impact the Ford Mustang continued onto the right eastbound highway shoulder area. The Saturn veered left into the westbound lanes where it crashed head-on with a westbound white 2004 Ford F150 pickup driven by 54-year old William Lee Wiedenmann of Dallas.

Hastings says Martinez-Aguilar and an injured unidentified passenger in his car were transported to Salem Hospital.

Working in consultation with the Polk County District Attorney's Office, Martinez-Aguilar was arrested and is being lodged in the Polk County Jail for Criminally Negligent Homicide, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants – Drugs, second-degree Assault, fouirth-degree Assault, Reckless Driving and 2 counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person.

Oregon State Police troopers from the Salem Area Command office and an OSP crash reconstructionist are continuing the investigation. Polk County Fire District I, Polk County Sheriff's Office, ODOT and Salem Police Department assisted.

Hastings says the westbound lanes of Highway 22W were closed for approximately three and a half hours.

Salem-News.com Top Stories

2025: Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst

Two Wars with No Way Out

No One Owns the Future

The Ugly Origins of Trump's America First Policy

A One-State Solution Could Transform the World

Comments Leave a comment on this story.

All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied.

Mark December 2, 2008 11:19 am (Pacific time)

Being in this country illegally is not a "political boundary"..it is a crime. Hence the term "illegal alien". I think it's worth noting that the offender in this accident was already breaking federal law at the time of the crash. Where am I wrong?

Doug November 28, 2008 8:16 pm (Pacific time)

Editor: You didn't print the article. Your own censorship caused people to not know what was said. And to innocently portray that that we shoud some how see onto your desk as to what he or she said...well what are your trying not to feed us. Get this...YOU DID NOT POST IT,...

EDITOR: Doug, it wasn't an article. It was a comment unfit to print. The message was primarily to the person who wrote it, so they would note that it was received, and deleted. That's our policy. If you don't like it, that's ok. We believe in your rights too. For more information about what is acceptable, check out our Terms of Service. Here is an excerpt: (Monitoring) Salem-News.com has the right in its sole discretion to edit, refuse to post or remove any material submitted to or posted on Salem-News.com. Without limiting the foregoing, Salem-News.com has the right to remove any material that Salem-News.com, in its sole discretion, finds to be in violation of the provisions hereof, or otherwise objectionable (including, but not limited to, spam, offensive sexual, racial or gender related material, and material that violates Salem-News.com's then current policies).

Doug November 26, 2008 6:25 pm (Pacific time)

Well, I don't know what the guy or gal said but if an illegal alien caused this crash the public has the right to know (a statistical sort of way...not mean). We also have the right to know why you are covering up something that is so common. You report on elderly, youth, drunks, and dogs driving to taco bell but are PC when it comes to endangering drivers against what is happening more and more often. I guess it's okay to hate the elderly, the youth, taco loving dogs, the legals, but don't out a criminal that is here illegally (if he/she is or was) ...only if he's some white guy...then destroy him totally and commpletely...then go hound his family. Perhaps you need to deal with your own self-hate along with whatever hate the banned writer wrote.

Editor: Doug, what are you trying to feed us over here? The moron writes this hateful crap about "illegal aliens" raping people and you think I should publish that? And that makes me hateful? Man, life has to be hard for you guys who have nothing better to do than worry about what political boundary a person was born behind. The really interesting part is that the family of the person involved in this story thanked us for not publishing that comment. But you think we're bad for it? Whatever dude.

TMCharity November 22, 2008 11:28 pm (Pacific time)

Thank you Editor for respecting the friends and family of our dearly loved Barbara Bier. Rest in Peace Barb!

conservative November 22, 2008 6:43 pm (Pacific time)

I can't believe you did not print my comment. Shame on you

Editor: Your observations about illegal aliens are not necessary or appropriate here. You can say all day long that your tone is not racist but it is and that is why we do not print comments like that. Hate will eat a person up from the inside, it is a bad thing to share. There is a grieving family involved here and only comments of a respectful nature will be posted.

[Return to Top]

Salem Man Faces Homicide Charge Over Fatal Crash

Quick Links

DINING

MUST SEE SALEM

AUCTIONS - APPRAISALS

CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

ONLINE SHOPPING

Advertise with Salem-News