MARION COUNTY, OR - The Oregon State Police (OSP) is reporting that on Thursday, August 22, 2024, at 5:26 a.m., OSP responded to a four-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 in Marion County near milepost 277.
The preliminary investigation indicated a black Volkswagen Golf, operated by Christopher Lee Connely (35) of Cascade Locks, was traveling northbound on I-5 behind a maroon Dodge Ram operated by Robert Allen Morton (59) of Salem. For an unknown reason, the Volkswagen rear-ended the Dodge pickup truck at highway speeds, causing the Dodge to lose control and spin across the travel lanes. A silver Nissan Altima, operated by Julia Cesar Garcia (30) of Albany, traveling behind the Volkswagen and Dodge, could not avoid the crash and collided with the Dodge.
Both the Dodge and Volkswagen continued across the cable barrier into the southbound lanes of I-5. A silver Ford Ranger, operated by Kenneth Lee Whelchel (31) of Dallas, traveling southbound, was struck. The Ranger's operator lost control, crashed into the barrier, and came to a stop about one-quarter mile down the highway.
The operator of the Ford Ranger (Whelchel) was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The operator of the Volkswagen (Connely) was transported to an area hospital by LifeFlight with serious injuries.
The Dodge (Morton) and Nissan (Garcia) operators sustained minor injuries and were not transported by medics.
The highway was impacted for six hours for the on-scene investigation.
Oregon State Police was assisted by the Lake Oswego Police Department, LifeFlight, Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue, Aurora Fire, Woodburn Ambulance, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
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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.
