FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 

DATE:  October 5, 2023

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

Salem, Ore. — Salem Police and other emergency responders were called to the intersection of River RD and Viewcrest DR at approximately 8:00 a.m. today on the report of a collision involving a dump truck and a crossover SUV.

Emergency personnel located the two occupants in the SUV, Jody Lynn Miehl, age 50, and a 13-year-old passenger. Miehl was pronounced deceased at the scene, and the teen was transported to Salem Health with non-life-threatening injuries.

The Salem Police Traffic Team’s preliminary investigation indicates the commercial truck entered the intersection, striking the SUV head on and pushing the vehicle rearward and down an embankment off the west side of River RD.

The driver of the dump truck, Earl Hugo Halemba, age 53, was uninjured. He remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.

There is no further information available at this time, including that of citations or arrest, as the incident remains an active investigation.

River RD was closed between Viewcrest DR and Minto-Brown RD for approximately eight hours. The extended closure was due to the rest position of the involved vehicles and removal of the full load the commercial truck carried, requiring extra time for emergency personnel to remedy.

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