An Oregon jury has found a truck driver guilty of manslaughter in connection with a tragic crash that killed seven farmworkers on Interstate 5 in 2023. The verdict marks a significant step toward justice in one of the state’s deadliest highway accidents.
Truck Driver Convicted in Fatal Collision
Lincoln Smith, a 54-year-old truck driver from California, was convicted on Wednesday of seven counts of second-degree manslaughter and reckless driving. However, the jury acquitted him of driving under the influence of intoxicants.
During the trial, Smith admitted that he had nodded off at the wheel before the crash but claimed that the effects of drugs he had taken the night before had worn off. Despite his statement, hospital tests later revealed traces of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and morphine in his system. Oregon State Troopers also found a “bullet of speed,” a small package of methamphetamine, in his pocket.
Smith’s defense attorney has not yet responded to requests for comment on the verdict.
The Crash That Claimed Seven Lives
The crash occurred in May 2023 near Albany, Oregon, when Smith’s semi-truck slammed into a parked van carrying farmworkers. All seven occupants of the van died at the scene. The victims, identified as Juan Carlos Leyva-Carrillo, Gabriel Juarez-Tovilla, Alejandra Espinoza-Carpio, Eduardo Lopez-Lopez, Luis Enrique Gomez-Reyes, Alejandro Jimenez-Hernandez, and Josue Garcia-Garcia, were migrant laborers working in the Willamette Valley.
The accident happened along Interstate 5, the main north-south highway on the West Coast. Albany, where the crash took place, is located between Salem and Eugene, approximately 70 miles south of Portland. The farmworkers had parked their van on the roadside when Smith’s truck veered off the highway and crashed into them.
One of Oregon’s Deadliest Highway Disasters
The case has drawn widespread attention due to the significant loss of life and the broader issue of road safety for farmworkers who often travel in groups for seasonal employment. Advocates have pointed to the tragedy as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by drowsy and impaired driving, particularly among long-haul truckers.
With the conviction of Smith, the families of the victims may find some closure, though the tragedy has raised deeper concerns about highway safety and the enforcement of regulations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
