Car Swerves into Truck’s Path Killing Driver

Date: October 17, 2009
Location: 5995 Hazelgreen Road NE, Silverton, Oregon
Names: Reynaldo Velazquez-Celestino, Mark Zank

Marion County Sheriff’s deputies are trying to figure out why a car crossed the center line and hit a truck head-on. The crash occurred at 5995 Hazelgreen Road NE in Silverton, Oregon, October 17, 2009, at around 6:50 AM. The car’s driver, Reynaldo Velazquez-Celestino, 40, of Salem, was killed in the crash, and the driver of the truck, Mark Zank, 31, of Silverton, was injured.

According to Salem-News.com, Zank was driving his 2000 Dodge Ram pickup westbound on Hazelgreen, when he noticed Velazquez-Celestino’s blue 1985 Honda Prelude traveling eastbound toward him. It swerved as it came around the corner, but returned to its own lane and appeared to be under control. Then the car crossed the center line again, striking the truck head-on.

Velazquez-Celestino was extricated from his car and pronounced dead at the scene. Zank was taken to Silverton Hospital with minor injuries. The cause of the crash was still under investigation as of October 19.

When an accident occurs, it can leave many questions. In this crash, even sheriff’s deputies are asking, “Why?” What happened to cause a driver to swerve into oncoming traffic? Perhaps we will never know all the details, but if you are in a crash where the details are unclear, it is important to find a Portland personal injury attorney who can conduct a thorough investigation.