FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 

DATE:  August 12, 2023

CONTACT:     Salem Police Communications Office | spdmedia@cityofsalem.net

Salem, Ore. — Emergency responders were called just before 11:00 a.m. to the 1900 block of Turner RD SE on the report of an elderly man struck by a tractor trailer exiting the driveway of the Walmart store.

The Salem Police Traffic Team is leading the incident and learned 81-year-old John Alvin Schwiewek was on the sidewalk walking northbound on the east side of Turner RD when he was struck by a tractor truck pulling a refrigerated trailer. The driver of the semi was exiting the parking lot and turning for northbound travel when Schiewek was struck.

The driver, identified as John Lee Griffin, age 62, is cooperating with the investigation and requirements for commercial drivers in collisions of this nature.

The Traffic Team investigation continues, and as such, no citations have been issued or arrest made.

The completion of  the crash scene reconstruction kept the roadway closed for approximately three-and-a-half hours.

Today’s fatal collision is the ninth to occur this year, and in total, have resulted in ten deaths.

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