Fatal I-5 Crash Near Canyonville Leads to DUII, Manslaughter Arrest

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On Monday, April 6, a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 5 near Canyonville, Oregon resulted in one fatality and three serious injuries. Police say the driver of a stalled commercial vehicle, Brenden Larry Christensen, was arrested for DUII and manslaughter after his vehicle was struck by a Honda CRV, causing both vehicles to catch fire.

Why it matters

This tragic incident highlights the dangers of impaired driving and the importance of safely operating commercial vehicles on highways. The crash resulted in a fatality and multiple serious injuries, underscoring the need for greater awareness and enforcement around DUII laws to protect public safety.

The details

According to Oregon State Police, a white Freightliner commercial motor vehicle hauling a loaded trailer, driven by Brenden Larry Christensen, 61, of San Diego, had stalled on an uphill grade in the outside lane while traveling northbound on I-5 near Canyonville. The stalled Freightliner was then struck by a maroon Honda CRV driven by Davin Jack Smith, 18, of El Sobrante, California, causing both the Honda and cargo in the Freightliner to catch fire. Davin Smith was pronounced dead at the scene, while his father Lawrence Wayne Smith, Jr., 60, and twin sister Annika Jace Smith, 18, were airlifted to area hospitals with serious injuries. A family friend, Ivan Amadeo Gonzalez, 19, of Hercules, California, was also transported to a hospital with minor injuries.

• The crash occurred at 3 p.m. on Monday, April 6.
• The highway was impacted for approximately three hours during the on-scene investigation.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Christensen is expected to appear in court in the coming days to face the charges of DUII and manslaughter.