Crash Claims Life of St. Paul Man in Molalla

Salem-News.com

(Molalla) - A collision between a car and a semi-truck Saturday just before 2:00 PM at the intersection of State Hwy 170 and South Barnards Road in Molalla claimed the life of a St. Paul man and hospitalized the driver and the car`s additional passenger.

The man who died, 54-year old Thomas Arthur, was riding in a 1980 gold-colored Honda four door, driven by his daughter, 19-year old Angelin Rose January, also of Molalla. A second passenger, 19-year old Daniel K. Roth of Molalla, described as January`s fiancée, was also injured.

Life Flight and a ground ambulance transported the two injured occupants of the Honda after it collided with a fully loaded eighteen-wheeler, hauling lumber which was traveling northbound on Hwy 170.

A witness to this accident reports she observed a "blur" enter the intersection, eastbound from S Barnards Road, failing to stop at this controlled intersection at Hwy 170, and S Barnards Road.

Investigators report that the Honda failed to obey a stop sign at this intersection and immediately collided with the rear trailer portion of the truck, just in front of the rear wheels. This passenger vehicle was then dragged, wedged under the trailer, along the pavement for approximately 50 feet after impact.

The driver of the semi-truck 53-year old George Clarno, bound for the Port of Portland while operating this fully loaded Meadow Ridge Farms semi-truck, was not injured in this accident.

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, Crime Reconstruction and Forensic Technicians (CRAFT) were summoned to the scene to conduct the investigation. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor.