Aerial view of I-5 at the North Santiam rest area showing the approximate location of the 2023 Freightliner and the 2001 Ford va

​​​Aerial view of I-5 at the North Santiam rest area showing the approximate location of the 2023 Freightliner and the 2001 Ford van at impact. (Source: Google Earth; annotations by the NTSB)

Roadway Departure and Crash with Parked Vehicles

What Happened

​On Thursday, May 18, 2023, about 2:45 p.m. Pacific daylight time, a 2018 Freightliner truck-tractor in combination with a 2014 Utility soft-sided semitrailer, operated by Waypoint Logistics, was traveling northbound on Interstate 5 (I-5) north of Millersburg, Marion County, Oregon. A 2001 Ford Econoline van towing a small utility trailer, operated by J. Ruiz Farm Labor Contractors, was parked on the 25-foot-wide right shoulder north of the highway exit ramp leading to the North Santiam rest area. A 2023 Freightliner Cascadia truck-tractor in combination with a 2023 Utility enclosed semitrailer, operated by C.R. England, was also parked on the right northbound shoulder of I-5 in front of the van. The 2018 Freightliner departed the highway travel lanes while approaching the location of the stopped vehicles and collided with the rear of the van and its trailer. The van was subsequently pushed forward into the rear of the 2023 combination vehicle. As a result of the crash, seven van occupants were fatally injured, three were seriously injured, and one sustained minor injuries. The drivers of the combination vehicles were not injured. At the crash location, I-5 comprises two travel lanes in each direction with the north and southbound lanes separated by an earthen median and a median guardrail barrier. The speed limit is 65 mph with a reduced speed limit of 60 mph for trucks. At the site of the crash, the highway was straight and level. At the time of the crash, the weather was clear, and the roadway surface was dry. 

What We Found

​This investigation was initiated to support the NTSB's interest in roadside truck parking for operators of commercial motor vehicles and also noted the impairment of one of the commercial vehicle operators.  We have produced an investigation close-out memorandum, which can be found in our docket.​ ​No further action specific to the Millersburg, Oregon crash will be taken. However, information from the items in the docket for this investigation may be used in future reports and/or activities.​  

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