Portland, OR – Salvador Manuel Rodriguez-Lopez Loses Life in Crash on I-5

Portland, OR (January 5, 2022) – An auto accident in Portland on Sunday has claimed the life of a disabled Navy Veteran. At around 11:20 p.m., on January 2, emergency crews in Portland were called to the site of a crash on Interstate 5.

Reports from the Portland Police Bureau show that a car was traveling south in the northbound lanes during the evening hours. The vehicle then collided with a second vehicle.

The driver of the second vehicle, identified as 34-year-old Salvador Manuel Rodriguez-Lopez, sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene.

The driver of the wrong-way vehicle, 40-year-old Amy Elzagh, was taken to a local hospital. Elzagh was subsequently arrested and charged with Reckless Driving, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Assault in the Second Degree, Manslaughter in the First Degree, Criminally Negligent Homicide, and Manslaughter in the Second Degree.

At this time, investigations are underway.

We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of Salvador Manuel Rodriguez-Lopez. Our thoughts are with them at this time.

Fatal Car Accidents in Oregon

Each year, more than 500 people lose their lives in vehicle accidents across the state of Oregon. In many instances, vehicle collisions are completely preventable. In Oregon, as well as other states across our country, the leading cause of traffic collisions is negligence and recklessness. When drivers fail to control their vehicles, engage in distracting behaviors, drive impaired, or operate their vehicles irresponsibly, it can have a detrimental impact on their lives as well as the lives of others sharing the road.

The impacts of fatal collisions are far-reaching and can have lasting consequences for surviving relatives. Not only are bereaved families forced to endure the emotional challenges of losing a loved one, but they are often forced to spend tens of thousands of dollars on funeral expenses, tackle burial costs, and move forward without an income they have grown to depend on. Although there is nothing that can be done to bring back those taken away from us due to these accidents, many families may have legal options available to help them secure compensation to help move forward. Working with a wrongful death attorney in Portland can help to ensure your legal rights are protected.

Portland Wrongful Death Lawyers

The Oregon car accident attorneys at Kivel & Howard have decades of combined experience helping families protect their legal rights after losing loved ones in accidents. When victims are fatally injured due to the reckless, negligent, and careless actions of others, we fight on behalf of bereaved relatives to ensure they get the justice they deserve.

Our team works diligently to investigate each accident, put together solid cases on behalf of our clients, and fight to ensure justice is served. If you have lost a loved one due to another person’s negligence, contact our personal injury attorneys in Oregon by calling (503) 796-0909 or (503) 802-4800. Schedule a free case evaluation with our team to discuss legal options available for you.

Note:  We utilize several outside sources when creating this accident news post for Kivel & Howard.  Our sources include news and media outlets, state and local police incident reports as well as statements taken from individuals who have witnessed the accident.  Because of this, the facts surrounding this accident have not been independently verified by our writing staff.  If you find any information that is inaccurate in our story, let us know and we will correct the post to reflect the most accurate information available.  We will remove this post from our site upon request.

Disclaimer: These posts are written with the intent to provide Oregonians with overall driving and safety information in an effort to reduce the number of serious accidents that take place on our roads and highways. These posts are not intended to provide medical or legal advice of any kind.  The photograph used in this story is not representative of the actual accident scene.