Salem, OR – A 12-person jury found Lincoln C. Smith, a truck driver, guilty of multiple charges, including seven counts of second-degree manslaughter and three counts of third-degree assault, following a tragic crash that claimed the lives of seven farmworkers and left three others seriously injured. The incident occurred on Interstate 5 near Salem in 2022, when Smith’s semi-truck collided with a van carrying seasonal agricultural workers.
The crash, which took place on a stretch of highway known for heavy traffic, left the victims with no chance of survival. The van, which was packed with workers, was struck from behind by Smith’s truck. According to investigators, the semi-truck driver failed to stop in time, despite the traffic ahead, and barreled into the vehicle, causing the devastating pileup.
Smith, who had been driving for hours, was charged with reckless driving in addition to the manslaughter and assault charges. His actions, according to the prosecution, were a result of negligence and failure to comply with basic driving safety standards, especially considering the densely populated nature of the highway and the conditions of the road.
The jury’s unanimous decision to convict Smith is a rare moment of justice for the victims’ families, who were left to mourn the loss of loved ones. The farmworkers, many of whom were working under difficult and often dangerous conditions to harvest crops, were on their way to their place of work when the crash occurred. Three survivors from the van sustained significant injuries, though they have since begun to recover.
As Smith faces a lengthy sentence, the incident has sparked widespread discussions about road safety, the importance of properly maintaining commercial vehicles, and the challenges faced by agricultural workers who often risk their lives to support the farming industry. Advocates have called for increased regulation on trucking companies and improved protections for vulnerable workers.
The case has also drawn attention to the larger issues surrounding the safety of agricultural workers, many of whom are immigrants working long hours for low wages in perilous conditions. While the conviction may offer some sense of closure, the road to justice for the victims’ families is far from over, as they now seek accountability from the larger systems that allowed this tragedy to unfold.
Smith is scheduled for sentencing later this year, where he will face a judge’s decision on the appropriate punishment for his role in one of the most devastating crashes in the state’s recent history.
