SALEM, Ore. — A jury in Oregon has found a truck driver guilty of manslaughter following a tragic crash in 2023 on Interstate 5 that resulted in the deaths of seven farmworkers and injuries to others, marking it as one of the state’s most catastrophic highway incidents.

Lincoln Smith, 54, from California, was declared guilty on Wednesday of seven counts of second-degree manslaughter, three counts of third-degree assault, and reckless driving. However, the Marion County jury cleared him of driving under the influence, as the defense claimed that Smith was trying to find parking when he fell asleep due to fatigue.

The accident transpired on May 18, 2023, when Smith’s semi-truck veered off the highway close to Albany, Oregon, an agricultural region located about 25 miles south of Salem. The truck, weighing 55,000 pounds, collided with a passenger van, pushing it into another parked semi-truck, based on information provided by both prosecutors and Smith’s defense team.

Prosecutors stated that the van was propelled 218 feet from the impact site, leading to the death of six individuals at the scene, with a seventh succumbing to injuries while being airlifted to the hospital. Three others sustained severe injuries, testifying during the trial about their ongoing pain.

Toxicology reports later indicated that Smith had traces of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl in his system at the time of the crash, as per the prosecutors.

The trial was charged with intense emotions, with family members, jurors, witnesses, and even Smith moved to tears at different times. Smith’s lawyers referred to the accident as “grisly.”

The Oregon Department of Transportation noted this incident as one of the deadliest roadway accidents in Oregon’s history.

Prosecutors argue driver was experienced but chose to use drugs

Prosecutors contended that Smith, with nearly 19 years of trucking experience, made the conscious decision to use drugs prior to driving. Marion County Deputy District Attorney David Wilson highlighted that in May 2023, Smith had a history of at least 17 arrests in California along with nine convictions.

“He acknowledges using meth and cocaine the previous night. He understood the risks involved,” Wilson stated.

Other drivers who were in close proximity to Smith before the crash testified they observed him swerving on and off the highway. One witness even called 911 after a Jeep had to swerve off the road to evade a collision with Smith’s truck.

During three hours of testimony, Oregon State Police Officer Randall Walker, who assessed Smith for signs of intoxication post-crash, reiterated his opinion that Smith was likely under the influence during the incident.

Walker noted Smith exhibited constricted pupils, struggled to explain where he had been driving, and often took time to answer questions. In body camera footage presented in court, Smith struggled to recall his phone number but was able to remember his girlfriend’s number and his home address.

“I’m feeling very dizzy, I can’t remember (expletive),” he mentioned in the footage. “I just can’t concentrate.”

While at the hospital, Walker inquired about searching Smith’s clothing and found a vial he claimed contained methamphetamine. Initially, Smith had told Walker he had used “zero drugs” and “zero alcohol” in the preceding 48 hours, but after the vial was discovered, he admitted to using it the previous day.

Defense claims truck driver was not impaired during the crash

Smith’s defense argued that although he socialized with a couple of hitchhikers and used drugs the night before the incident, he was not under their influence at the time of the crash and had fallen asleep while attempting to take an exit for a rest area.

The defense asserted that the confusion and dizziness noted by Walker were actually symptoms of shock from the traumatic event.

“He was right in the center of a terrible situation,” defense attorney Tiffany Humphrey explained. “He experienced a severe crash.”

They referenced Walker’s training in drug evaluation, indicating that methamphetamine’s effects can last up to 12 hours, implying that any residual effects from the previous day should have subsided by the time of the crash.

While stimulants like meth typically keep users alert, Walker mentioned that when combined with drugs like fentanyl, the results can be unpredictable.

He noted that after the high from meth use, individuals can experience a downside, pointing to Smith’s erratic driving as further evidence of impairment unrelated to shock.

“After the high comes a low,” he expressed. “The downside of meth can lead to lethargy and sleepiness.”

Despite this, several defense witnesses, including a paramedic who assessed Smith at the scene, testified that Smith’s vital signs, pupils, and behavior appeared normal, showing no signs of drug influence.

Kenn Meneely, who previously collaborated with state police and initiated the agency’s drug recognition evaluation training program, criticized Walker for not properly evaluating Smith’s pupils. Based on his examination of police reports, body camera footage, and medical records, he didn’t believe Smith was impaired.

“Lincoln Smith acted without recklessness. There’s no evidence he was impaired. His behaviors didn’t align with impairment,” Humphrey addressed the jury. “Trooper Walker was the sole individual who suggested that Lincoln Smith was under the influence.”

Contributing: Shannon Sollitt and Bill Poehler, Salem Statesman Journal; Thao Nguyen,