Driver arrested after crash that killed mother of seven

08:09 AM PDT on Tuesday, May 13, 2008



By KGW.com Staff

NEWBERG, Ore. -- Police have arrested the man suspected of driving drunk and causing a multi-vehicle crash that killed a mother of seven from Dayton last weekend.

Oregon State Police

A car crossed over the median on Highway 99 hitting two vehicles and killing one woman.

Senior Trooper Mark McDougal arrested 26-year-old Leonel Zurita Loeza of Portland on charges of assault, manslaughter, criminal mischief, reckless driving and driving under the influence of intoxicants.

Investigators say Loeza was driving a car that crossed a center grass median on Highway 99W between Dundee and Newberg and struck a vehicle driven by 52-year-old Carma Smith, a mother of seven.

Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.

After Loeza’s car hit Smith’s vehicle, it crashed into a southbound Toyota Corolla with four people inside. None of the Corolla’s occupants were hurt.

Everyone in Loeza's vehicle was seriously injured. Both Loeza and passenger, Izquierdo Jonathan, 21, were taken to OHSU by Life Flight. A second passenger, Nicholas Contreras, 31, was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

Loeza was booked in the Yamhill County Jail after he was released from Legacy Emanuel Hospital. Investigators believe alcohol and speed contributed to the crash.


http://www.nwcn.com/statenews/oregon/st ... f1066.html