Latest news with #LincolnSmith
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Yahoo
Semi-truck driver gets 48 years in prison for Oregon crash that killed 7 farmworkers
SALEM, Ore. — A California truck driver who killed seven farmworkers in 2023 when he crashed into a van off Interstate 5 in Oregon has been sentenced to nearly 50 years in prison. Lincoln Smith, 54, was unanimously found guilty by a 12-person jury in February for seven counts of second-degree manslaughter, three counts of third-degree assault, and one count of reckless driving. He was acquitted of driving under the influence. The jury reached a decision the day after closing arguments, following about 9 hours of deliberation. The trial lasted seven days with five days of evidence. Prosecutors called almost 30 witnesses, while defense attorneys called six, concluding with Smith. On Tuesday, Marion County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Wren chose to impose the time for the manslaughter and assault charges consecutively, totaling 579 months, or 48 years and three months. "There's nothing I can say today that's gonna take away or replace the pain and the loss," Wren said. "They were just out there working, looking forward to coming home and seeing their families, and now they don't get to do that because Mr. Smith did not pull over to the side of the road when he realized two hours before that he should have." Seven family members of the deceased and the three survivors all shared statements with the court. They spoke about the devastation the crash caused, the emotional and physical suffering they continue to endure, and the ongoing grieving. Many survivors said they came to the U.S. looking for a better life and were hard workers who always followed the law. Several cried throughout their testimony. Smith also appeared emotional throughout the proceedings. His lawyers had asked for a sentence of 12 years and six months. "Mr. Smith never intended to hurt anyone," defense attorney Tiffany Humphrey said. "He will think about this incident every day for the rest of his life." 'Very tragic.' 4 dead, multiple injured in fiery crash involving tractor-trailers on Arizona highway The collision occurred on May 18, 2023, when Smith's semi-truck veered off the highway near Albany, Oregon, an agricultural area about 25 miles south of Salem. The 53-foot, 55,000-pound semi-truck struck a passenger van and pushed it into another parked semi-truck, according to prosecutors and Smith's attorneys. The van was propelled 218 feet from the point of impact, prosecutors added. At the time of the incident, PCUN — Oregon's largest Latino farmworkers union — and Mexican officials said the 11 people in the van were all farmworkers. Six people died at the scene, and a seventh died in a helicopter on the way to the hospital. Three others were seriously injured and testified during the trial that they continue to experience constant pain. According to the Oregon Department of Transportation, the crash is among the deadliest in the state's history. Survivors of the crash and family members of those who were killed spoke for about two hours on Tuesday. Several family members remain in Mexico and were unable to attend the sentencing but they provided statements to be read in court. The mother of Luis Enrique Gomez Reyes, said the loss of her son was so profound she felt like she would never be able to enjoy life again. The widow of Eduardo Lopez-Lopez said she didn't learn her husband had died until two days after the crash and she was robbed of closure. The husband of Alejandra Espinoza-Carpio appeared in court Tuesday, identifying himself only as Francisco. He said he's struggled to be both a mother and a father to the couple's son. "The day after the accident, my son woke up and went looking for his mom in the kitchen, in the bathroom, in the bedroom, and with his hands, he motioned, 'Where is mom?'' he said. "What am I going to say to a one-and-a-half-year-old, that his mother is no longer with us? That a person took her life?" He said his wife was an engineer in Mexico and he was a business owner, but they chose to come to the U.S. for a better life. He concluded his testimony by shaking the judge's hand and sharing a photo of him with his wife and child. Maria Flores-Martinez, who survived the crash, said she will never be the same person she was before. Half of her head and back are numb now and she can't move her neck, she said. Flores-Martinez said she's the third generation living in Oregon in her family and she had always thought she'd retire of age, rather than disability. "While I was resting that night in order to be ready for the following morning and to go to work, Mr. Smith was partying it up," she said. Smith was driving north on I-5 from Woodland, California, carrying truck canopies and camper shells. The night before the crash, Smith said in his testimony to the court he used meth and cocaine with a couple of hitchhikers but said he was no longer feeling the effects of the drugs when he got up around 6:30 a.m. local time the next day. But by noon, he started feeling tired, decided to stop for the day, and began looking for a place to park his truck, he told the court. He checked two rest stops, found both were full, and headed on to the Santiam River rest stop in Marion County. Drivers near or behind Smith on the road testified at trial they saw him swerving on and off the road before the crash. One woman called 911 after witnessing a Jeep veer off the road to avoid getting hit by Smith. Smith got into the exit lane for the rest stop but said he fell asleep, missed the exit, and collided with the van. Witnesses described the crash as a gruesome and violent scene. Emergency responders said it was the most horrific incident they'd ever seen. One emergency responder testified medics struggled initially to determine how many people had been in the van because of the severity of the damage. Prosecutors argued Smith was experiencing the "downside" of meth, which causes extreme lethargy. They argued he acted recklessly by choosing to use drugs the previous night and by failing to stop driving when he knew he was tired. Lab tests showed Smith, who had been driving trucks for almost 19 years and used drugs on and off since he was 12 years old, had meth, cocaine and fentanyl in his bloodstream, prosecutors said. During three hours of testimony, Randall Walker, the Oregon State Police officer who evaluated Smith for signs of intoxication after the crash, reaffirmed his belief Smith was under the influence at the time of the crash. Smith, he said, had constricted pupils, struggled to answer questions about where he had been driving, and was often slow to respond. In body camera footage played in court, Smith could not recollect his phone number but did recall his girlfriend's number and his home address. "I'm getting really dizzy, I can't remember (expletive)," he said in the footage. "I just can't focus." At the hospital, Walker asked Smith if he could search his clothes. He found a vial in Smith's pocket that he said contained meth and acknowledged using the previous day, despite previously denying drug usage, according to the footage. While stimulants typically cause people to be more alert, Walker said users of meth could experience a "downside" after the fact and cited Smith's poor driving before the crash as evidence of impairment. "At the end of the high there's a low," he said. "The downside of meth is that they are lethargic and sleepy and have a hard time staying awake." What cities are the most dangerous? 41,000 people were killed in US car crashes last year. The second-degree manslaughter charges hinged on whether Smith was acting recklessly. Defense attorneys argued Smith was not acting recklessly, saying he was no longer under the influence, was not experiencing the downside, and began attempting to find parking when he became tired. Laws regulate where trucks are allowed to park for long periods, meaning Smith couldn't just pull over anywhere when he decided to call it a day. His attorneys claimed the symptoms Walker observed as signs of being under the influence were actual signs of shock resulting from the crash. "He was just in the middle of a grisly scene," Humphrey said. "He was in a high-impact crash." Multiple witnesses for the defense, including the paramedic who evaluated Smith at the scene, testified Smith's vitals, pupils and demeanor were normal and he did not appear to be under the influence. Drug evaluation expert witnesses who reviewed police and medical records and body camera footage testified Smith was not displaying symptoms consistent with the downside of meth and any effects from drugs taken the previous night would most likely have worn off. Smith testified he was under pressure to make his deliveries on time but recognized he was too tired that day and needed to stop early. In two emails Smith wrote that prosecutors asked Walker to read to the court, Smith described the day of the crash as "the worst day of my life." "I'm upset with myself for letting this happen but I'm not ashamed of myself," Smith said in an email. "Truck drivers fall asleep every day." Isabel Funk covers breaking news and public safety for the Statesman Journal. Funk can be reached at ifunk@ or on X at @isabeldfunk This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Truck driver sentenced for 2023 Oregon crash that killed 7 farmworkers
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Yahoo
Oregon jury finds trucker guilty of manslaughter in crash that killed 7 farmworkers
SALEM, Ore. — An Oregon jury has found a semitruck driver guilty of manslaughter in a 2023 collision on Interstate 5 that killed seven farmworkers and injured several others in one of the state's deadliest highway crashes. Lincoln Smith, 54, of California, was convicted Wednesday on seven charges of second-degree manslaughter, three charges of third-degree assault and reckless driving. But Marion County jurors acquitted Smith of driving under the influence after defense attorneys argued Smith was not acting recklessly and was attempting to find parking when he became tired. The collision occurred on May 18, 2023, when Smith's semitruck veered off the highway near Albany, Oregon, an agricultural area about 25 miles south of Salem. The 53-foot, 55,000-pound semi-truck struck a passenger van and pushed it into another parked semitruck, according to prosecutors and Smith's attorneys. The van was propelled 218 feet from the point of impact, prosecutors said. Six people died at the scene, and a seventh died in a helicopter on the way to the hospital. Three others were seriously injured and testified during the trial that they continue to experience constant pain. Lab tests later revealed that Smith had methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl in his bloodstream at the time of the incident, prosecutors said. Emotions have run high throughout the trial, with family members, jurors, witnesses, and Smith crying at times. Smith's attorneys called the crash "grisly." According to the Oregon Department of Transportation, the crash is among the deadliest in Oregon history. DC plane crash updates: Helicopter had advanced tracking system turned off, lawmaker says Prosecutors have argued that Smith, who has been driving trucks for almost 19 years, was an experienced truck driver who decided to use drugs before getting on the road. Marion County Deputy District Attorney David Wilson also noted that in May 2023 Smith had at least 17 arrests in California and nine previous convictions. "He admits to using meth and cocaine the night before. Again, he knows the risk," Wilson said. Drivers near or behind Smith on the road testified at trial that they saw him swerving on and off the road before the crash. One woman called 911 after witnessing a Jeep veer off the road to avoid getting hit by Smith. During three hours of testimony, Randall Walker, the Oregon State Police officer who evaluated Smith for signs of intoxication after the crash, reaffirmed his belief Smith was under the influence at the time of the crash. Smith, he said, had constricted pupils, struggled to answer questions about where he had been driving, and often took a long time to respond. In body camera footage played in court, Smith could not recall his phone number but recalled his girlfriend's number and his home address. "I'm getting really dizzy, I can't remember (expletive)," he said in the footage. "I just can't focus." At the hospital, Walker asked Smith if he could search his clothes. He found a vial in Smith's pocket that he said contained methamphetamine, according to the footage. Smith previously told Walker he'd used "zero drugs" and "zero alcohol" in the past 48 hours. After Walker found the vial, Smith admitted he'd used it the previous day. Smith's attorneys have argued while Smith did party with a couple of hitchhikers and used drugs the night before the crash, he was no longer under the influence that day and had fallen asleep at the wheel while trying to take an exit to a rest stop. They claimed the symptoms Walker observed as signs of being under the influence, including confusion and dizziness, were actual signs of shock resulting from the crash. "He was just in the middle of a grisly scene," said defense attorney Tiffany Humphrey. "He was in a high-impact crash." They cited Walker's drug evaluation training, which states the effects of methamphetamine — a stimulant — can last up to 12 hours, suggesting any methamphetamine Smith had used the previous day should have worn off. While stimulants typically cause people to be more alert, Walker said when used in combination with drugs that have opposite effects, like fentanyl, the outcome can be unpredictable. Walker added that users of methamphetamine could experience a "downside" after the fact and cited Smith's poor driving before the crash as evidence of impairment not caused by shock. "At the end of the high there's a low," he said. "The downside of meth is that they are lethargic and sleepy and have a hard time staying awake." Multiple witnesses for the defense, however, including the paramedic who evaluated Smith at the scene, testified Smith's vitals, pupils and demeanor were not abnormal and he did not appear to be under the influence. Kenn Meneely, who formerly worked with state police and launched the agency's drug recognition evaluation training program, said Walker did not follow proper protocol to evaluate Smith's pupils. He said based on a review of police reports, body camera footage, and medical records, he did not believe Smith was under the influence. "Lincoln Smith was not reckless. There's no proof he was impaired. The signs he exhibited did not match impairment," Humphrey said to the jury. "Trooper Walker was the only person that told you he thought Lincoln Smith was impaired." Contributing: Shannon Sollitt and Bill Poehler, Salem Statesman Journal; Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon jury finds semitruck driver guilty in crash that killed 7
USA Today
07-02-2025
- USA Today
Oregon jury finds trucker guilty of manslaughter in crash that killed 7 farmworkers
Oregon jury finds trucker guilty of manslaughter in crash that killed 7 farmworkers Show Caption Hide Caption Trial starts for driver charged in I-5 crash that killed 7 farmworkers The trial for Lincoln Smith, 54, began Monday in Marion County Circuit Court. SALEM, Ore. — An Oregon jury has found a semitruck driver guilty of manslaughter in a 2023 collision on Interstate 5 that killed seven farmworkers and injured several others in one of the state's deadliest highway crashes. Lincoln Smith, 54, of California, was convicted Wednesday on seven charges of second-degree manslaughter, three charges of third-degree assault and reckless driving. But Marion County jurors acquitted Smith of driving under the influence after defense attorneys argued Smith was not acting recklessly and was attempting to find parking when he became tired. The collision occurred on May 18, 2023, when Smith's semitruck veered off the highway near Albany, Oregon, an agricultural area about 25 miles south of Salem. The 53-foot, 55,000-pound semi-truck struck a passenger van and pushed it into another parked semitruck, according to prosecutors and Smith's attorneys. The van was propelled 218 feet from the point of impact, prosecutors said. Six people died at the scene, and a seventh died in a helicopter on the way to the hospital. Three others were seriously injured and testified during the trial that they continue to experience constant pain. Lab tests later revealed that Smith had methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl in his bloodstream at the time of the incident, prosecutors said. Emotions have run high throughout the trial, with family members, jurors, witnesses, and Smith crying at times. Smith's attorneys called the crash "grisly." According to the Oregon Department of Transportation, the crash is among the deadliest in Oregon history. DC plane crash updates: Helicopter had advanced tracking system turned off, lawmaker says Prosecutors say driver was experienced, chose to use drugs before driving Prosecutors have argued that Smith, who has been driving trucks for almost 19 years, was an experienced truck driver who decided to use drugs before getting on the road. Marion County Deputy District Attorney David Wilson also noted that in May 2023 Smith had at least 17 arrests in California and nine previous convictions. "He admits to using meth and cocaine the night before. Again, he knows the risk," Wilson said. Drivers near or behind Smith on the road testified at trial that they saw him swerving on and off the road before the crash. One woman called 911 after witnessing a Jeep veer off the road to avoid getting hit by Smith. During three hours of testimony, Randall Walker, the Oregon State Police officer who evaluated Smith for signs of intoxication after the crash, reaffirmed his belief Smith was under the influence at the time of the crash. Smith, he said, had constricted pupils, struggled to answer questions about where he had been driving, and often took a long time to respond. In body camera footage played in court, Smith could not recall his phone number but recalled his girlfriend's number and his home address. "I'm getting really dizzy, I can't remember (expletive)," he said in the footage. "I just can't focus." At the hospital, Walker asked Smith if he could search his clothes. He found a vial in Smith's pocket that he said contained methamphetamine, according to the footage. Smith previously told Walker he'd used "zero drugs" and "zero alcohol" in the past 48 hours. After Walker found the vial, Smith admitted he'd used it the previous day. Defense attorneys say truck driver was no longer under influence of drugs during crash Smith's attorneys have argued while Smith did party with a couple of hitchhikers and used drugs the night before the crash, he was no longer under the influence that day and had fallen asleep at the wheel while trying to take an exit to a rest stop. They claimed the symptoms Walker observed as signs of being under the influence, including confusion and dizziness, were actual signs of shock resulting from the crash. "He was just in the middle of a grisly scene," said defense attorney Tiffany Humphrey. "He was in a high-impact crash." They cited Walker's drug evaluation training, which states the effects of methamphetamine — a stimulant — can last up to 12 hours, suggesting any methamphetamine Smith had used the previous day should have worn off. While stimulants typically cause people to be more alert, Walker said when used in combination with drugs that have opposite effects, like fentanyl, the outcome can be unpredictable. Walker added that users of methamphetamine could experience a "downside" after the fact and cited Smith's poor driving before the crash as evidence of impairment not caused by shock. "At the end of the high there's a low," he said. "The downside of meth is that they are lethargic and sleepy and have a hard time staying awake." Multiple witnesses for the defense, however, including the paramedic who evaluated Smith at the scene, testified Smith's vitals, pupils and demeanor were not abnormal and he did not appear to be under the influence. Kenn Meneely, who formerly worked with state police and launched the agency's drug recognition evaluation training program, said Walker did not follow proper protocol to evaluate Smith's pupils. He said based on a review of police reports, body camera footage, and medical records, he did not believe Smith was under the influence. "Lincoln Smith was not reckless. There's no proof he was impaired. The signs he exhibited did not match impairment," Humphrey said to the jury. "Trooper Walker was the only person that told you he thought Lincoln Smith was impaired." Contributing: Shannon Sollitt and Bill Poehler, Salem Statesman Journal; Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Yahoo
Oregon jury finds truck driver guilty of manslaughter in interstate crash that killed 7 farmworkers
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon jury on Wednesday found a truck driver guilty of manslaughter in a collision on Interstate 5 that killed seven farmworkers in 2023 in one of the state's deadliest highway crashes. Lincoln Smith was convicted of seven counts of second-degree manslaughter as well as reckless driving, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. But the Marion County jurors acquitted the 54-year-old Californian of driving under the influence of intoxicants. Smith testified that the effects of drugs taken the night before the crash had worn off, and that he had nodded off at the wheel, the news outlet reported. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Traces of methamphetamine, fentanyl and morphine were found in Smith's blood later at a hospital, and state troopers found a 'bullet of speed' in the pocket of his pants, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. The defense attorney listed for Smith in court records did not immediately return a text message and voicemail seeking 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. The crash occurred in May 2023, when Smith's semitruck ran into a van carrying farmworkers that was parked on the side of Interstate 5 near Albany, an agricultural area of the Willamette Valley. Albany lies between the state capital Salem and Eugene, and is about 70 miles (113 kilometers) south of Portland. I-5 is the main north-south interstate highway on the West Coast.
The Independent
06-02-2025
- The Independent
Oregon jury finds truck driver guilty of manslaughter in interstate crash that killed 7 farmworkers
An Oregon jury on Wednesday found a truck driver guilty of manslaughter in a collision on Interstate 5 that killed seven farmworkers in 2023 in one of the state's deadliest highway crashes. Lincoln Smith was convicted of seven counts of second-degree manslaughter as well as reckless driving, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. But the Marion County jurors acquitted the 54-year-old Californian of driving under the influence of intoxicants. Smith testified that the effects of drugs taken the night before the crash had worn off, and that he had nodded off at the wheel, the news outlet reported. Traces of methamphetamine, fentanyl and morphine were found in Smith's blood later at a hospital, and state troopers found a 'bullet of speed' in the pocket of his pants, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. The defense attorney listed for Smith in court records did not immediately return a text message and voicemail seeking 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. The crash occurred in May 2023, when Smith's semitruck ran into a van carrying farmworkers that was parked on the side of Interstate 5 near Albany, an agricultural area of the Willamette Valley. Albany lies between the state capital Salem and Eugene, and is about 70 miles (113 kilometers) south of Portland. I-5 is the main north-south interstate highway on the West Coast.
