Family of deceased Salem cyclist accuses DEA agent of wrongful death in federal suit

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The family of the Salem cyclist who was killed in a crash involving a special agent has sued the driver, city officials, the U.S., and several law enforcement agencies.

Mark Meleason filed the federal complaint on behalf of Marganne Allen in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon on Wednesday. The plaintiff has accused all of the defendants in being negligent in the “wrongful death” that occurred in spring 2023.

That year, KOIN 6 reported that a cyclist later identified as 58-year-old Allen died at a hospital following a crash at the intersection of Southeast Leslie Street and High Street on March 28. The incident occurred as Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Samuel Landis drove a pickup truck while working with Oregon State Police and the Salem Police Department’s drug enforcement task force.

According to court documents, Landis unnecessarily violated state traffic laws by speeding past a stop sign in the residential neighborhood.

“During all times mentioned herein, there were no exigent circumstances surrounding the surveillance where any of the task force members needed to speed or disobey traffic control devices to accomplish their tasks,” the complaint reads.

The plaintiff alleges the law enforcement agencies failed to train the agent on how to properly drive during surveillance missions. The suit additionally said the defendants failed to “keep and maintain a proper or adequate lookout” before Allen’s death.

Landis was charged with criminally-negligent homicide in September 2023. The special agent’s attorneys filed a notice to move the case to federal court the following month, arguing that his actions were necessary due to his role as a federal officer.

Later this January, U.S. District Judge Michael J. McShane ruled the agent is “entitled to federal immunity” and dismissed the case.

Meleason is now seeking more than $2.5 million in the wrongful death complaint. KOIN 6 reached out to the DEA for a statement, but the agency does not comment on pending litigation.