A tragic accident occurred north of Salem, Oregon, on Wednesday, when a Union Pacific freight train collided with a car, resulting in the death of three individuals and injuring another. The incident took place around 7 p.m. when a 2002 Honda, traveling on a farm access road, attempted to cross the railroad tracks south of Gervais and was struck by the oncoming train.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation revealed that the driver of the car disregarded a traffic control device near the railroad tracks. The victims of the fatal collision were identified as Catarino Hernandez Guzman, 31, Francisco Lopez, 33, and Jesus Carrera Avendano, 22.
Anselmo Caballero Herrera, a 26-year-old passenger in the vehicle, survived the crash and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. The Statesman Journal reported on his condition but did not provide further details.
The sheriff’s office clarified in their statement that neither alcohol nor drugs were contributing factors in the accident. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is ongoing, with further details expected to be released in due course.