61-year old James Paul Marlowe Jr, died in the crash and 17-year old Levi Brown was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
(ALBANY, Ore.) - Oregon State Police troopers are investigating a single vehicle fatal traffic crash north of Albany that happened along the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 at approximately 1:15 p.m.
Lieutenant Mark Cotter with Oregon State Police in Albany, says 61-year old James Paul Marlowe Jr. was transporting a female student passenger for the Greater Albany Public School District as part of a special program in the Salem/Keizer school district.
The female passenger is identified as 17-year old Levi Brown.
Cotter explains that Marlowe was driving a 2006 Ford E150 van registered to the Greater Albany Public School District, when he lost control of the vehicle while moving southbound on Interstate 5 passing the off ramp at the Jefferson interchange, Exit 237.
\"For an unknown reason the van traveled off the right shoulder into a grassy area where it struck a dirt embankment and went airborne. The van\'s roof struck an overpass cement pillar and came to rest on its wheels facing north on the southbound shoulder,\" Cotter said.
James Marlowe was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was using safety restraints. Next of kin notification was completed with the help of Chaplain Todd Pynch from Crisis Chaplaincy Service.
The 17-year old female student, Levi Brown, was transported by ambulance to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries, according to Cotter.
Cotter says she was using safety restraints at the time of the crash.
The Jefferson Fire District personnel, Linn County Sheriff\'s Office and ODOT assisted at the scene. Traffic was restricted to one lane for about one hour before all lanes were re-opened.
An Albany school district representative responded to the scene to assist with the OSP investigation conducted by troopers from Albany and Salem offices.
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