Salem High School Teacher Dies in Three Vehicle Crash

Emily Campbell, an English teacher at North Salem High School, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Photo - Oregon State Police

(DALLAS,OR) - Oregon State Police (OSP) say a three vehicle fatal traffic crash occurred on Highway 22W just west of the intersection with Highway 51 west of Salem at Friday at approximately 7:12 a.m.

Investigators say a Chevrolet pickup driven by 60-year old Agapito Escutia-Chacon of Gervais, was westbound on Highway 22W when it crossed the center line into the eastbound lane. Two eastbound vehicles, a Toyota 4Runner traveling in the left lane driven by 35-year old Mark D. Barnhart Jr. of Falls City, and a Honda Accord traveling in the right lane driven by 32-year old Emily Sue Campbell of Dallas, both moved to the right side of the eastbound lanes in an attempt to avoid a collision. The three vehicles collided in the eastbound lanes and came to rest along the eastbound lanes of the highway.

Emily Campbell, who was an English teacher at North Salem High School, was pronounced deceased at the scene. She was using safety restraints.

Agapito Escutia-Chacon and Mark D. Barnhart Jr. were transported by ambulance to Salem Hospital. Their injuries were serious but non-life threatening. Safety restraint use is pending confirmation.

OSP troopers from the Salem Area Command office are continuing the investigation into the cause of the crash. Senior Trooper Andrew Goffrier is the lead investigator. OSP troopers from Albany and McMinnville are also assisting.

Polk County District Attorney's Office, Polk County Sheriff's Office, and ODOT responded to the scene to assist. The eastbound lanes were closed over 4 hours.

According to Salem-Keizer School District, even though spring break has begun, there will be grief counseling for students and staff available at North Salem High School library Monday morning starting at 10 a.m. Salem-Keizer School District does not have a photograph of the victim they can release.

Video by Jerry Freeman Salem-News.com