4 Dead After Man Crashes Sports Car Into Oregon Homeless Camp
Four people died Sunday after a man crashed his car into a homeless camp in Salem, Oregon.
Two people were pronounced dead at the scene and two died at a nearby hospital, the Salem Police Department said in a press release. The people killed were identified as Jowand Beck, age 24; Luke Kagey, age 21; Joe Posada III, age 54; and Rochelle Zamacona, age 29.
The driver, Enrique Rodriguez Jr., 24, had been driving a two-door sports coupe when he crashed into homeless tents at about 2 a.m. local time. Rodriquez, who was driving alone, was hospitalized with injuries, as were two others, according to local reports.
Rodriquez was later booked into the Marion County Jail. He is being held without bail Monday for four counts of first-degree manslaughter, as well as charges of second-degree assault, third-degree assault and six counts of reckless endangerment.
Police said in a statement that investigators "believe alcohol may have been a contributing factor."
Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack called the crash "a tragic incident." The homeless camp is on the property of the Oregon Department of Transportation.
According to the Salem Statesman Journal, more than 1,000 people sleep outside in the Salem area on any given night.
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