News Release: Woodburn Car Crashes Kill One, Injure Five (Photo) - 07/24/23

Monday July 24, 2023 – Woodburn, OR - On Monday July 24, 2023, at approximately 3:06 p.m., Woordburn emergency services personnel were dispatched to a multivehicle crash along Highway 214, east of N Settlemier Avenue, which resulted in the highway being closed from N Settlemier Avenue to N 5th Street for over four hours with traffic being diverted around the area. 

Investigators learned that a gold-colored Mercury Grand Marquis was recklessly driving through traffic eastbound on Hwy 214 near Astor Way, where it first struck the back of a white Toyota Tacoma. The Mercury continued eastbound on Hwy 214 at a high rate of speed through the intersection at N Settlemier Avenue, crossed toward the on-coming lane of traffic, and struck the rear driver side of a FedEx truck that was traveling westbound causing it to tip onto its side in the middle of the roadway. The Mercury then crashed head-on into a Buick Acadia. 

Vehicle occupants: 

• Toyota Tacoma – One occupant (driver):  Transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 
   
• Buick Acadia – Three occupants (two adults and one minor): All three transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 
   
• FedEx Truck – One occupant (driver): Suffered minor injuries and was not transported. 
   
• Mercury Grand Marquis – One occupant (Driver/Suspect): Identified as 33-year-old Aristotle Vargas. He sustained life threatening injuries and had to be extricated from the vehicle. Lifesaving efforts were made by emergency crews at the scene, and he was then Life Flighted to OHSU where he died from his injuries. 

Determinates of the crash are still under investigation. No further details are available at this time.