UPDATE: Salem Parkway reopened to traffic Thursday afternoon, the Salem Police Department said around 2 p.m.
Original story below:
Salem drivers should avoid Salem Parkway at Northeast Cherry Avenue, where police say a vehicle caught fire following a crash Thursday.
The area will be closed in all directions for “an extended period” as emergency responders work on the scene of the crash, the Salem Police Department said around 12:30 p.m.
The crash involved a semi truck and two cars, with multiple injuries to four people, according to Brian Carrara, deputy chief of administrative services for the Salem Fire Department.
“All of the patients either self-extricated or received help exiting the crashed vehicles,” Carrara said in an email Thursday.
Two of those injured were transported to Salem Hospital. He said the agency did not know the extent of their injuries.
“The on-scene crews did an incredible job of rapidly assessing the patients getting the help that they needed. The first two ambulances transported the first patients within 12 minutes of arrival,” he said.
All fire personnel left the scene, and police were still investigating the crash around 1:30.
Drivers should take detour routes:
Northbound Salem Parkway drivers must go north or south on Northeast Broadway Street.
Southbound Salem Parkway drivers must go north on Northeast Cherry Avenue into Keizer.
All northbound travel on Cherry Avenue on the Salem side is completely blocked.
This story was updated after Salem’s police and fire departments provided additional information.
Contact reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian: [email protected] or 503-929-3053.
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Ardeshir Tabrizian has covered criminal justice and housing for Salem Reporter since September 2021. As an Oregon native, his award-winning watchdog journalism has traversed the state. He has done reporting for The Oregonian, Eugene Weekly and Malheur Enterprise.
