The victim in a fatal crash on Interstate 5 at Hayden Island on Sunday was identified as a Vancouver man.
Benjamin Craig King, 44, was killed in a fiery four-vehicle crash that was caused by the driver of a tractor-trailer, according to the Portland Police Bureau.
A 2012 International tractor-trailer driven by Bruce Kelpert, 51, of British Columbia, was traveling south on I-5 when Kelpert failed to stop for traffic, Portland police said.
At about 4:30 p.m. Sunday, the tractor-trailer crashed into the back of King’s car, a 2004 Suzuki sedan, which was pushed into a 2007 Lincoln Town Car, crushing the car and causing the Suzuki to burst into flames, police said.
King died at the scene.
Police said a fourth car, a 2000 Oldsmobile Alero, was also involved.
The driver of the Town Car, 79-year-old Delpha Camp, and a passenger in that car were taken to a local hospital. So was the driver of the Alero, 46-year-old Ingrid Hernandez, and a passenger in her vehicle. Their conditions were not available, but police said their injuries were not life-threatening.
Kelpert remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, police said. He did not show any signs of impairment, and there wasn’t any indication of distracted driving, investigators said.
Police issued Kelpert a traffic citation for careless driving, and the investigation into the crash continues.
Joe Stotz of Vancouver was driving south to dinner with family in Portland when he came close to getting caught in the crash himself. He said he saw it unfold in his rear-view mirror.
“It was horrific,” he said. “We had a really somber dinner.”
