Driver's father-in-law dies at the scene

Oregon State Police troopers are continuing an investigation into a single-vehicle rollover crash that occurred Saturday afternoon along the southbound lanes of Interstate 205 north of Stafford Road. One person was killed and two others were seriously injured.

According to OSP Trooper Scott Kinch, at about 12:53 p.m. Saturday a Nissan Pathfinder driven by Patricia Vega Ponce, 37, of Salem, was southbound in the right lane on I-205 near milepost 5. According to witnesses, the vehicle’s right rear tire blew out, causing the vehicle to travel onto the right shoulder. Vega Ponce was unable to control the vehicle as it traveled across the two southbound lanes and rolled numerous times onto the center median, where it came to rest on its wheels.

Juventino Munoz Veramontes, 74, from Mexico, who was in the back seat and was not using safety restraints, was ejected from the vehicle. Munoz Veramontes was the father of the right front passenger. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver was seriously injured and transported by LifeFlight to Oregon Health & Science University Hospital. She was using safety restraints and was listed in critical condition.

Right front passenger Saul Munoz Garcia, 39, of Salem, was seriously injured and was transported by AMR ambulance to Oregon Health & Science University. He is the driver’s husband and is in serious condition. Safety restraint use information is pending confirmation.

OSP troopers from the Portland Area Command office are continuing the investigation.

The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, West Linn Police Department, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue and Oregon Department of Transportation assisted at the scene. The southbound lanes were closed for emergency response and LifeFlight landing for about one hour before one lane was re-opened for traffic. All lanes were re-opened by about 4:30 p.m.