Police say an intoxicated driver struck two cars near the North Lancaster Neighborhood early Sunday morning and fled before turning himself in. A 16-year-old boy died in the collision, the Salem Police Department announced in a news release Tuesday.
Prosecutors charged Gustavo Sosa, 27 of Silverton, on Tuesday in Marion County Circuit Court with second-degree manslaughter, fourth-degree assault, two counts of recklessly endangering another person, failure to perform duties of driver to seriously injured persons, reckless driving and driving under the influence of intoxicants.
Salem police and emergency crews responded around 3 a.m. on Sunday to a report of a three-vehicle crash at the intersection of Lancaster Drive and Northeast Beverly Avenue, according to the news release.
Investigators determined Sosa was traveling southbound on Lancaster Drive. His car then struck the rear end of another car with two occupants and also struck a mid-size crossover SUV with two occupants. Sosa fled before police arrived, the release said.
The teen victim was taken to Salem Hospital with life-threatening injuries.
The intersection was closed for around six hours as police investigated the collision.
Investigators identified Sosa as a suspect in the crash, but he surrendered himself to police before they could find him, according to the statement.
Sosa was arrested Monday afternoon and booked into Marion County Jail, where he was being held without bail as of Tuesday.
The hospitalized teen died from his injuries early Tuesday, according to the Salem police statement. The agency does not identify minors who are victims in criminal investigations.
Sosa is scheduled to be arraigned at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in Marion County Circuit Court.
Correction: This story was updated to reflect the correct date of the teen’s death. Salem Reporter apologizes for the error.
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.
