Portland, OR – Four-Car Wreck on I-5/MP 277 Leaves One Dead, Several Injured
Portland, OR (August 22, 2024) – A tragic multi-vehicle collision on I-5 near Marion County resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries early Thursday morning, August 22nd. The crash, involving four vehicles, occurred near milepost 277 at around 5:26 a.m. on August 22nd, according to the Oregon State Police (OSP). The deceased victim was identified as 31-year-old Kenneth Lee Whelchel of Dallas, Oregon. Whelchel was driving a silver Ford Ranger when the vehicle was struck and ultimately lost control, crashing into a barrier. Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Another individual, 35-year-old Christopher Lee Connely from Cascade Locks, suffered serious injuries in the crash. Connely, who was driving a black Volkswagen Golf, was transported via LifeFlight to a local hospital for emergency treatment. Two other drivers involved in the accident, 59-year-old Robert Allen Morton of Salem and 30-year-old Julia Cesar Garcia of Albany, sustained non-life-threatening injuries but were not hospitalized. Preliminary investigations by the OSP indicate that the collision was initiated when the Volkswagen rear-ended a maroon Dodge Ram driven by Morton at high speed. This impact caused the Dodge to spin out of control across the highway, resulting in further collisions with the Nissan Altima driven by Garcia and the Ford Ranger operated by Whelchel. The crash led to a six-hour closure of the highway as authorities conducted their investigation and cleared the wreckage.
Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Whelchel, and we wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured.