According to the Oregon State Police, the mishap happened at around 1:30 a.m. December 23, 2024, on Interstate 5 near milepost 235.
Linn County, OR – Two people, identified as Cassie Maree Martinez, 35, of Salem, and 34-year-old Linling Wang, were killed early last week Tuesday in a head-on collision on 5 Freeway in Linn County.
According to the Oregon State Police, the mishap happened at around 1:30 a.m. December 23, 2024, on Interstate 5 near milepost 235.
A preliminary investigation indicated that a Dodge Durango, operated by Martinez, was speeding southbound in the northbound lanes of the freeway when it collided head-on with a northbound Mercedes Sprinter Van, operated by Wenfeng Shi,37, of Alhambra (CA).
The impact of the collision caused both vehicles to catch fire.
Martinez and a passenger in the Mercedes, Wang were declared deceased at the scene.
Shi and a second passenger in the Mercedes, Li Yanling,44, of Oakland (CA), suffered minor injuries and were transported to an area hospital for treatment.
The freeway was impacted for approximately 4.5 hours during the on-scene investigation.
The crash is under investigation.