PUBLIC SAFETY

Two injured in crash on Highway 22

Two Salem residents were critically injured in a single-vehicle Thursday crash that closed a portion of Highway 22 east of Lyons.

Oregon State Police Troopers responded to the crash near milepost 25 at about 11:36 a.m. Thursday. 

Only one vehicle was found to be involved, driven by Randy Flickinger, 65, of Salem. According to a press release from State Police, Flickinger was driving a gray Subaru Outback heading east, when he “left the roadway for unknown reasons” and the vehicle hit a tree on the westbound shoulder. 

Both the driver and his passenger, Lorella Flickinger, 73, of Salem, were flown via Life Flight to area hospitals in critical condition, the release said. 

The highway was closed for approximately one hour Thursday. Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Linn County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oregon Department of Transportation all assisted.

Contact reporter Jordyn Brown at [email protected].

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Jordyn Brown is an Oregon journalist who formerly worked for the Eugene Register-Guard.