PORTLAND, Ore. — Police have identified the driver who died in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 5 in South Portland late Sunday night as Salvador Manuel Rodriguez-Lopez, 34. A Tuesday press release from the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) described him as a disabled Army veteran who had just celebrated his birthday.
The driver of the vehicle going the wrong way was identified as Amr Elzagh, 40. He is in custody, police said, and has been charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving, second degree assault, criminally negligent homicide, first degree manslaughter and second degree manslaughter.
The crash happened at 11:21 p.m. Sunday. PPB received reports that a vehicle was driving south in the northbound lanes of I-5 near Interstate 405. As officers were responding, they received a report that two vehicles crashed into each other on northbound I-5, just north of the South Macadam Avenue exit.
The driver of the vehicle that was driving north died at the scene. The wrong-way driver was taken to the hospital. PPB said it did not know the extent of that person's injuries at the time, and the Tuesday press release did not mention the injuries.
The PPB Major Crash Team is investing the crash. The northbound lanes of I-5 were closed during the investigation but later reopened.
Anyone who has information about this crash is asked to contact crimetips@portlandoregon.gov, attention Traffic Investigations Unit, and reference Case No. 22-1617, or call 503-823-2103.
Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story identified Rodriguez-Lopez as a Navy veteran, as released by Portland Police. The bureau has since announced a correction and said he served in the United States Army.
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