Police suspect alcohol and speeding may have contributed to the death of a 51-year old Scotts Mills man who was killed when his SUV crashed into a power pole near Highway 213 south of Molalla Sunday evening, landing upside down off the road.
Oregon State Police report that about 8:30 p.m., June 17, a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Salvador Pican Compean, 51, was traveling south on Highway 213 at a high rate of speed when it lost control, crashed into and split a power pole, then came to rest upside down.
A Scotts Mills man was killed when his Jeep crashed into a power pole and landed upsidedown south of Molalla Sunday evening - OSP photo
Compean, partially ejected from the vehicle, was not wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Troopers with the Salem Area Command office are continuing the investigation into the crash, which closed the highway for several hours while PGE crews repaired the power lines. Oregon Department of Transportation personnel were on scene to handle traffic-related duties and set up a detour.