A Salem man faces manslaughter charges following a fatal head-on crash Thursday night.
At approximately 8:25 p.m., a 911 caller reported a serious motor vehicle crash on Northeast Cordon Road near Northeast Swegle Road, just east of Salem.
Emergency responders arrived on scene to find a red Chevrolet Suburban and a red Toyota Tacoma had collided head-on, according to a press release from Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
The driver of the Toyota Tacoma was identified as Felipe Hernandez, 51, of Salem, and was fatally wounded in the crash.
Hugo Hernandez Rojas, 33, of Salem was found to be driving the Chevrolet Suburban. He was transported by ambulance to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to the release.
The county’s multi-agency crash team responded to the scene.
“Preliminary information leads investigators to believe the Chevrolet Suburban was traveling south bound prior to the crash, striking the Toyota in the oncoming lane. Intoxication was determined to be a contributing factor to the crash,” the release said.
Hernandez Rojas has since been arrested and now faces charges of manslaughter in the second degree, driving under the influence of intoxicants and reckless driving, the sheriff’s office said. He is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on Oct. 17.
Keizer Police Department, Marion County District’s Attorney’s Office, Marion County Fire District #1, Marion County Public Works, and Willamette Valley Communications Center all assisted the sheriff’s office.
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.
