Taxi rear-ended near Woodburn, passenger killed in crash

Woodburn, Ore. – (KGW) One person was killed when a suspected drunk driver rear-ended a taxi outside Woodburn early Sunday morning, police said.

The crash occurred just before 3 a.m., on SR HWY 99 near Belle Passi Road.

Taxi driver Erica Perez, 31, of Woodburn was transporting three passengers when her minivan was rear-ended, according to investigators. Martha Cruz Aldama, 34, of Woodburn was riding in the back seat and was killed in the crash, according to Sergeant Cari Boyd with Oregon State Police.

Investigators were unable to determine whether Aldama had been wearing a seat belt. She was pronounced deceased at the scene, Boyd said.

The driver of the SUV that hit the taxi was identified as Leovigildo Torralba Arzola, 29, of Salem. Boyd said alcohol was considered as a contributing factor for the crash. Arzola has been lodged at the Marion County jail for manslaughter II, driving while under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving and reckless endangering three people. Additional charges may be considered as the investigation continues, Boyd said.

The other two passengers in the taxi were identified as
Eliceo Armmenta Arredondo, 41, of Beaverton and Francisco Aguilar Munoz, 45, of Hillsboro. No further details have been released on their conditions.

Police have not said where the taxi was heading when the crash occurred.