A truck driver was sentenced to nearly 50 years in prison for a tragic crash that killed seven farmworkers in Oregon. Lincoln Smith, 54, received a sentence of 48 years and 3 months from Judge Daniel Wren in Marion County Circuit Court.
The crash occurred in May 2023 on Interstate 5 near Albany, a region known for its agriculture. Smith’s semitruck collided with a parked van carrying 11 farmworkers. This incident is among the deadliest highway accidents in Oregon’s history.
In February, Smith was found guilty on several serious charges, including seven counts of second-degree manslaughter and three counts of assault. He was also convicted of reckless driving. However, jurors did not find him guilty of driving under the influence of drugs.
During the trial, Smith testified that he had taken drugs the night before the crash, but he believed their effects had worn off by the time he was driving. After the accident, tests showed traces of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and morphine in his blood.
The victims of this devastating crash were identified as Juan Carlos Leyva-Carrillo, Gabriel Juarez-Tovilla, Alejandra Espinoza-Carpio, Eduardo Lopez-Lopez, Luis Enrique Gomez-Reyes, Alejandro Jimenez-Hernandez, and Josue Garcia-Garcia.
In court, Smith expressed deep remorse, stating that he would trade his life for any of the victims if he could. The loss of these lives has left a profound impact on their families and the community.
Albany is located about 70 miles south of Portland, and Interstate 5 is a major route along the West Coast. The crash has raised concerns about safety on highways and the responsibilities of truck drivers.