The northbound lanes on I-5 were closed until 3:00 AM as northbound traffic was diverted off at the Highway 34 interchange.
(ALBANY, Ore.) - A Salem woman is in custody after a fatal head-on crash near Albany that killed two women. It happened late Sunday night on northbound Interstate 5.
The two victims, along with a third surviving passenger, are members of the Eugene Symphony and were returning to their homes following a Sunday evening rehearsal.
OSP says at approximately 10:53 PM, a 1993 Saturn four-door with three occupants driven by 36-year-old Kjersten Oquist, from Wood Village, was northbound on Interstate 5 near milepost 233 in the left lane when it was struck in the passenger side by a 1996 Nissan Sentra four-door that was southbound in the northbound lanes.
Oquist and passenger 31-year-old Angela Svendsen, from Vancouver, Washington, were pronounced deceased at the scene.
Both were using safety restraints.
Another passenger in the Saturn, 28-year-old Kelly Gronli, from southeast Portland, was using safety restraints and was transported by ambulance to Samaritan Albany General Hospital for treatment.
According to the hospital, Gronli was treated and released.
The Nissan's driver, 26-year old Fivea Sharipoff, from northeast Salem, received non-life threatening injuries and was transported by ambulance to Samaritan Albany General Hospital for treatment.
She was using safety restraints and her car's airbag deployed.
Upon release following treatment, Sharipoff was taken into custody by Oregon State Police troopers.
Sharipoff was lodged in Linn County Jail on two counts of First Degree Manslaughter, Second Degree Assault, and DUII.
Bail is set at $155,850.
Oregon State Police troopers from the Albany Area Command office are continuing the investigation with the assistance of the Linn County District Attorney's Office.
Linn County Sheriff's Office, Albany Fire Department, ODOT, and the Multi Agency Traffic Team (MATT) assisted at the scene.
The northbound lanes were closed until 3:00 AM during which northbound traffic was diverted off at the Highway 34 interchange.
Source: Albany (Oregon) Police
_________________________________________
Salem Woman Driving Wrong Way on I-5 Kills Two Eugene Symphony MembersSalem-News.com