Oregon Jury Convicts Truck Driver of Manslaughter in Fatal Interstate Crash Involving 7 Farmworkers
SALEM, Ore.—On Wednesday, an Oregon jury convicted a truck driver of manslaughter following a catastrophic collision on Interstate 5 that resulted in the deaths of seven farmworkers in 2023, marking one of the most severe highway incidents in the state.
Lincoln Smith faced seven counts of second-degree manslaughter and was also found guilty of reckless driving, according to reports from The Oregonian/OregonLive.
However, the jury in Marion County did acquit the 54-year-old man from California of driving under the influence of intoxicants. Smith testified that the impact of the drugs he consumed the night before had faded, admitting that he fell asleep at the wheel, as reported by the news outlet.
After the crash, hospital tests revealed traces of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and morphine in Smith’s bloodstream, and state troopers discovered a “bullet of speed” in his pants pocket, The Oregonian/OregonLive detailed.
The defense attorney listed for Smith in court documents did not promptly respond to a text and voicemail requesting comment on behalf of her client.
The victims were identified as Juan Carlos Leyva-Carrillo, 37; Gabriel Juarez-Tovilla, 58; Alejandra Espinoza-Carpio, 39; Eduardo Lopez-Lopez, 31; Luis Enrique Gomez-Reyes, 30; Alejandro Jimenez-Hernandez, 36; and Josue Garcia-Garcia, 30.
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The tragic incident took place in May 2023 when Smith’s semi-truck crashed into a van filled with farmworkers parked on the shoulder of Interstate 5, near Albany, a region known for agriculture in the Willamette Valley.
Albany is situated between Salem, the state capital, and Eugene, around 70 miles south of Portland. I-5 serves as the primary north-south interstate highway on the West Coast.
