Salem, Ore. — Around 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning, emergency responders from the Salem Police and Fire Departments responded to the scene of a crash into a homeless encampment.
Police say the driver, Enrique Rodriguez, Jr., 24, was traveling northbound on Front ST passing Union ST when the vehicle left the roadway and crashed into an unsheltered encampment pinning two individuals beneath the car. The camp was located at the corner where Front ST NE intersects with the Front ST business route known as OR99E.
Two individuals died at the scene. Four people from the encampment were transported to Salem Health with life-threatening injuries, two of whom later died at the hospital. The driver, and sole occupant of the vehicle, was also transported for medical treatment.
The exact number of individuals and tents at the encampment is not known.
Officers helped several uninjured campers collect some of their belongings and provided shelter assistance. Three individuals were taken to a local motel. The City of Salem’s homeless advocacy partners were also contacted in an effort to assist.
Rodriguez has been charged with four counts of first-degree manslaughter, second and third-degree assault and six counts of reckless endangerment.
Police have not said whether they believe the act was intentional.
