LINN COUNTY, OR - Oregon State Police (OSP) are reporting that on Sunday, July 21, 2024, at 2:09 a.m., OSP responded to a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 5, near milepost 222, in Linn County.
The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Lexus GS, operated by Isael Garcia (23) of Woodburn, rear-ended a northbound Toyota Camry, operated by Justin Michael Palmer (37) of La Center (WA).
The operator of the Toyota (J. Palmer) suffered reportedly serious injuries and was transported to an area hospital.
A passenger in the Toyota, Scott Alan Palmer (53) of Camarillo (CA), was declared deceased at the scene.
The operator of the Lexus (Garcia) suffered reportedly minor injuries. Garcia was medically cleared and arrested for DUII.
The highway was impacted for approximately six hours during the on-scene investigation. The investigation is on-going.
OSP was assisted by the Linn County Sheriff's Office and ODOT.
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About the Oregon State Police
Oregon State Police (OSP) is a multi-disciplined organization that is charged with protecting the people, wildlife, and natural resources in Oregon. OSP enforces traffic laws on the state’s roadways, investigates and solves crime, conducts postmortem examinations and forensic analysis, and provides background checks, and law enforcement data. The agency regulates gaming and enforces fish, wildlife, and natural resource laws. OSP is comprised of more than 1,400 staff members – including troopers, investigators, and professional staff – who provide a full range of policing and public safety services to Oregon and other law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon.
