Three hurt in 3-vehicle crash involving a Salem city bus

SALEM, Ore. - Police said three people were injured Tuesday morning when a pickup truck and a minivan collided and then hit a Salem city bus, sending it crashing into a gas station's sign.

Marion County Sheriff's Deputies did not say how badly the injured people were hurt but did say all three were taken to a Salem hospital following the crash, which took place at about 6:30 a.m.

Steve Dickey with the Salem-Keizer Transit agency said the crash took place at the intersection of Silverton Road NE and Lancaster Drive NE.

Deputies said the chain-reaction crash began when Esteban Hernandez, 28, of Salem, entered the intersection in a red 1999 Ford F150 pickup and hit a green Dodge Caravan minivan being driven by Jorge Morales, 41, of Salem.

The impact sent the minivan into the bus, which was being driven by Gary Harrison, 64, of Salem. The bus then went up over a curb and hit the Union 76 station's sign before it came to a stop.

Bus driver Harrison was not hurt and deputies said no one was on the bus when it was hit. The bus did not come near the gas pumps, deputies said.

A passenger in the minivan was injured and also taken to the hospital, deputies said.

The Ford pickup was heavily damaged and was taken from the scene on a flatbed truck. The Dodge Caravan had less damage but was also towed away.

The bus was damaged enough that it was taken out of service and towed from the scene, Dickey said.

Deputies said the crash is under investigation and the cause has not been determined. No citations have yet been issued, deputies said.