Romaldo Lopez Lopez Killed in Woodburn Car Accident
Romaldo Lopez Lopez drove Honda Civic wrong way into oncoming traffic, police say
Romaldo Lopez Lopez, 31, of Salem, died in a head-on collision on Interstate 5 northbound near Woodburn, Oregon, on March 30, according to police. He was driving a silver Honda Civic the wrong way in the northbound lanes near milepost 270 when he crashed into a white Acura ZDX. Officers responded to the scene at about 7:59 p.m.
Lopez was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Acura suffered minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital by ambulance. An Oregon Department of Transportation spokesperson confirmed the collision occurred just south of Exit 271.
Emergency crews initially closed two of the highway's three lanes until 10 p.m., then closed all lanes, directing traffic onto the shoulder. The highway fully reopened at 11:22 p.m. Police are investigating the circumstances of the fatal incident.
Oregon State Police investigators examining the crash that killed Romaldo Lopez Lopez on Interstate 5 will reconstruct the event by looking at several factors. These factors include studying skid marks, vehicle damage, and where the cars stopped to determine speed and impact angles. Police will also check for surveillance video from nearby businesses or traffic cameras, speak with witnesses, and conduct toxicology tests on the driver who died to see if impairment was a factor in driving against traffic. The Oregon State Police will lead this investigation, and their findings will be used to determine the crash's cause.
"When you have these forces involved, you have tremendous energy," explained attorney Michael Colbach. "That energy has to be accounted for, and the human body is not designed to withstand those forces."
Michael Colbach, a Portland-based attorney, highlighted the importance of a thorough investigation in such cases.
"An attorney will get a copy of the police report, the toxicology report, the death certificate, and then get into the medical records," Colbach said. "Based on that information, the attorney can help the family decide what their next steps are."
Wrong-way driving incidents on interstates like I-5, while less frequent than other crash types, often cause serious or fatal outcomes because of the high speeds in head-on collisions. While specific statistics for I-5 in Oregon were not immediately available, national trends indicate that wrong-way crashes are often connected to impaired driving or driver confusion due to poor signage or unfamiliar roads. The crash near Exit 271 means investigators will likely examine the on-ramp and off-ramp configurations for potential causes.
Under ORS § 30.020, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. Oregon applies modified comparative fault (51% bar). The statute of limitations is 3 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and the decedent's pre-death pain and suffering.