MARION COUNTY, Ore. — Authorities are seeking the public’s help as they continue to investigate a tragic pedestrian fatality that occurred in the early morning hours of Thursday, October 30, 2025, along Interstate 5 in Marion County. The Oregon State Police (OSP) is leading the investigation and urging anyone with information or dashcam footage to come forward to assist in identifying the vehicle involved.
According to a preliminary report from OSP, troopers began receiving multiple 911 calls around 5:40 a.m. regarding a person seen in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 256, close to the Center Street Overpass in Salem. When first responders arrived, they discovered a deceased adult male near the shoulder of the interstate. Based on evidence at the scene, investigators believe the man may have been struck by the side mirror of an unknown oversized vehicle that continued northbound after the collision.
Surveillance footage obtained from nearby businesses reportedly captured the man walking in the vicinity of the overpass around 4:30 a.m., roughly an hour before the fatal incident. Authorities are still working to determine the circumstances that led him onto the highway and to identify the vehicle involved.
OSP troopers, alongside the Marion County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), temporarily closed several lanes of I-5 while investigators documented the scene and collected evidence. The roadway has since reopened to normal traffic flow.
The victim’s name has not yet been released, pending notification of next of kin. Investigators continue to piece together the events leading up to the tragic collision and are hopeful that additional witnesses will come forward.
Anyone who was traveling through the area between 4:30 and 5:30 a.m. or who may have dashcam video capturing an oversized vehicle during that timeframe is urged to contact the Oregon State Police Northern Command Center. Even the smallest detail, authorities say, could be critical in identifying the driver and bringing closure to the victim’s family.
This heartbreaking incident serves as a somber reminder of the dangers pedestrians face along major highways, particularly during dark early-morning hours. The Marion County community joins together in offering condolences to the victim’s loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.
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