This story was updated with more information from the Salem Police Department.

The motorcyclist who died in a crash Thursday morning was identified by Salem police as Sean E. Mobley, 37.

Around 10 a.m. Thursday, Mobley had turned off of Southeast Mission Street onto Southeast Hines Street before accelerating to pass two vehicles in front of him, the Salem Police Department said in a statement.

As he was accelerating, the driver of a Honda SUV turned left onto Southeast 18th Street and hit Mobley, who was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

Portions of Southeast Hines and 18th Streets were closed for over two hours as officers investigated, the statement said. 

The driver, who was not publicly identified, was a 28-year-old man. No arrests or citations have been made and the crash is being investigated.

ORIGINAL STORY BELOW:

A motorcyclist died Thursday morning in a crash in central Salem, according to Salem police.

At 10:03 a.m. Thursday, a car hit and killed a motorcyclist in the intersection of Southeast Hines Street and 18th Street, the Salem Police Department said in an email.

The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. The victim’s name was not made public and the driver, who also was not identified, stayed on the scene and is cooperating with the department’s traffic team, Sgt. Jon Hardy, Salem police spokesperson, said.

The department first announced the crash in a traffic notification at 10:30 a.m. alerting people that Southeast Hines Street is closed between Mission and 17th Streets and Southeast 18th Street is closed between Waller and Cross Streets.

The social media post said the streets are expected to be closed for “a significant period of time.”

This is Salem’s first fatal crash of 2026.

Contact reporter Madeleine Moore: [email protected].

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