A truck driver was sentenced to more than 48 years in prison after causing a crash that killed seven people in Oregon. The accident happened on May 18, 2023, near Albany.
What happened: Lincoln Smith, the 54-year-old trucker, crashed into a van full of farmworkers on Interstate 5. The crash was linked to Smith's admitted use of methamphetamine and cocaine after partying with hitchhikers the night before.
- Smith felt tired while driving but continued for two hours before falling asleep at the wheel.
- His blood tests post-crash showed methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, but he wasn't found guilty of driving under the influence.
The sentence: Smith received 579 months, or 48.25 years, in Marion County Circuit Court. He was convicted of seven counts of Manslaughter and three counts of Assault, reported KATU News.
The victims included farmworkers Juan Carlos Leyva-Carrillo, Gabriel Juarez-Tovilla, and others. Serious injuries were also inflicted on three individuals.
No possibility of sentence reduction exists for Smith, highlighting the gravity of the multiple charges he faced. The lasting impact of the crash on the victims' families was shared during court through emotional testimonies.