April 8, 2026 5:50 p.m. 

A motorist died, three people were injured and a semi-truck driver has been jailed on manslaughter and other charges, following a two-vehicle crash that closed a section of Interstate Five on Monday afternoon.

An Oregon State Police report said at 3:00 p.m. troopers responded to the wreck on Interstate 5 northbound near milepost 90 and the Canyon Creek summit.

A preliminary investigation indicated that a commercial motor vehicle hauling a loaded trailer, operated by 61-year-old Brenden Larry Christensen of San Diego, California, had stalled on an uphill grade in the outside lane while traveling northbound. The stalled semi was struck by an SUV operated by 18-year-old David Jack Smith of El Sobrante, California, causing the SUV and the cargo of bananas in the trailer to catch fire. The CMV had stalled several times prior to the collision while climbing the grade.

The SUV driver was pronounced deceased at the scene. Two passengers in the SUV, ages 60 and 18, were transported by air ambulance to area hospitals with serious injuries. A third passenger in the SUV, aged 19, was transported to an area hospital by ground ambulance with reported minor injuries.

The CMV driver, Brenden Christensen, was not injured. Impairment is believed to have been a contributing factor in the crash and Christensen was placed under arrest. He has also been charged with three-counts of second-degree assault, reckless driving, and driving under the influence of intoxicants. Christensen is detained on $500,000 bail.

The freeway was impacted for approximately three hours during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Canyonville Fire Department, Glendale Rural Fire Department and the Oregon Department of Transportation.