Salem Fatal, Feb. 13

The Salem Police Department Traffic Control Unit is continuing its investigation into a crash that claimed the lives of one adult and one child on the evening of February 11 in southeast Salem. Officers responded to the scene on Turner Rd SE, south of the intersection with Airway Dr. SE at approximately 6:17 pm. The investigation revealed that a 1994 Ford Escort, driven by 28-year old Hannah Reitz of McMinnville, had been traveling northbound on Turner Rd when it crossed into the path of a southbound 1997 Ford F-150 pickup, driven by 32-year old Jason McMurphy of Turner, and was struck head on. There were two adults and three children in the Ford Escort at the time of the crash. A passenger in the Ford Escort, 26-year old Kelly Moore of McMinnville, died at the scene as did her 9-year old daughter Jasmine Moore. Jayden Moore, 9 year-old the twin sister of Jasmine, 8-year old Marena Reitz, and Marena’s mother, Hannah Reitz, were all transported to the hospital with possible life-threatening injuries. Jason McMurphy, the driver of the Ford Pickup truck, was also transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. At this point it is unknown what caused the Ford Escort to cross over into the oncoming traffic, but it does not appear as though speed or intoxicants were a factor in the incident. There are no updates available at this time on the conditions of those transported to the hospital.