May 20, 2023 8:00 a.m.

A semi-truck driver has been jailed and charged with DUII and seven counts of second-degree manslaughter following a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 5, approximately ten miles north of Albany, on Thursday afternoon.

An Oregon State Police report said the accident took place shortly after 2:00 p.m. in the northbound lanes of the freeway near the Santiam Rest Area. The commercial motor vehicle left the roadway on the east shoulder. It struck a van, occupied by eleven people and pushed that vehicle into a parked CMV. The force of the crash caused extreme damage to the van.

As a result of the wreck, six people were pronounced deceased at the scene. One victim from the van was transported by Life Flight and was later declared deceased at an un-named hospital. The other four occupants suffered various injuries and were transported via ambulance for medical care.

OSP has not released the names of the victims as family notifications are still being made. The victims will be identified in a future report.

The operator of the parked CMV was not injured.

The driver of the CMV who caused the crash has been identified as 52-year old Lincoln Clayton Smith of North Highlands, California. He was transported for medical evaluation. Smith was later arrested and taken to jail. Additional charges include reckless driving and three counts of third-degree assault.

OSP was assisted by multiple EMS and law enforcement agencies along with the Oregon Department of Transportation.