Teen Driver 'Impaled' in Crash, Will Survive

The vehicle was occupied by four 16-year old occupants, all Sprague High School students.

Photo and video by Jerry Freeman Salem-News.com

(SALEM) - Officers from the Salem Police Department responded to a serious motor vehicle crash on Ballyntine Rd S. south of Kuebler Blvd. S. at t 3:25 p.m.

When they arrived, they found a 1996 Nissan 4-door sedan had left the roadway and had collided with approximately 300 feet of cyclone fencing.

The vehicle was occupied by four 16-year old occupants. The driver had been impaled in the upper chest area by the top rail of the cyclone fence. The occupants had to be extricated from the vehicle by emergency personnel.

It was determined that all of the occupants were Sprague High School students.

A preliminary investigation has revealed that the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed and was hill hopping eastbound on Ballyntine Rd when the driver lost control of the vehicle.

All occupants were transported to Salem Hospital. Initial reports indicated the driver had life-threatening injuries, but his condition has been upgraded to non-life threatening injuries.

The other three passengers sustained minor injuries. Ballyntine Road was closed while police investigated the crash, but it is now reopened.

Video from the scene by Jerry Freeman Salem-News.com