SALEM, Ore. — A woman in Salem has died after being hit by a car on Wednesday morning, according to the Salem Police Department.
On Aug. 14 around 11:40 a.m., Salem police responded to reports of a pedestrian that was hit by a sports utility vehicle at the intersection of Lancaster Drive and Wolverine Street Northeast.
Police have identified the pedestrian as 67-year-old Teresita Telesfora Millard, who was taken to a hospital with critical injuries. Millard later died on Aug. 17 due to the injuries that she sustained in the crash.
The preliminary investigation conducted found that the driver of the SUV, identified as Mario Alberto Ortiz, 53 of Salem, was in the dedicated left turn lane waiting to make a left turn. After the traffic signal cycled, the woman started crossing eastbound within the marked crosswalk when Ortiz initiated the left turn, hitting the pedestrian, according to Salem police.
Ortiz stayed at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. He was initially cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, having no operator's license, and driving uninsured.
Now, with Millard’s death, the incident remains an active case and will be forwarded to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office for review upon completion, said Salem police.
The incident marks Salem’s 16th traffic fatality of the year. In 2023, the Traffic Team investigated 12 fatal collisions that resulted in 13 deaths.
