Drunk Beaner Runs a Red Light, Collides Into a Car and Kills Three Teens

Juan Carlos Rodriguez Palacios.

Beaners have difficulty driving in a straight line even when sober.

This was never going to end well.

Salem Reporter:

A Salem man is facing manslaughter charges after allegedly causing a crash that killed three Salem and Keizer teens Sunday night near Salem Parkway and Cherry Avenue Northeast.

Juan Carlos Rodriguez Palacios, 25, is accused of running a red light in a Jeep Wrangler and colliding just before midnight with a Toyota Camry driven by one of the teens at Cherry Avenue Northeast, the Salem Police Department said in a news release.

All three of the occupants – Trinity Watt, 19, of Salem; Madison Capobianco, 19, of Salem; and Makayla Tryon, 18, of Keizer – died at the scene.

Salem police spokesman Lt. Treven Upkes said Rodriguez Palacios’ vehicle collided with the passenger side of the teens’ vehicle. Upkes could not say how fast Rodriguez Palacios was driving.

The three were former students at Roberts High School, Salem-Keizer’s alternative high school, district spokeswoman Lillian Govus said.

Tryon earned a GED from the district’s downtown learning center during the 2016-17 school year.

Capobiano and Watt attended classes through a program on the Chemeketa Community College campus. Watt was enrolled this year but last came to class in January, and Capobiano last attended in 2016-17.

Rodriguez Palacios was transported to Salem Health for treatment and later charged with three counts of first-degree manslaughter, four counts of recklessly endangering another person, third-degree assault, reckless driving and driving under the influence of intoxicants.

Police said Rodriguez Palacios’ blood-alcohol level was 0.239 when tested, about three times the legal limit of 0.08.

He pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and was placed in diversion. Records show he completed the diversion requirements and the charge was then dismissed. He pleaded guilty to reckless driving and failure to perform the duties of a driver. The three counts of recklessly endangering another person were dismissed.

Left to right: Makayla Tryon, Madison Capobianco and Trinity Watt.