20-CAR CRASH
INVOLVING SEMIS CLOSES EB I-84 IN EASTERN OREGON. 4 PEOPLE INJURED. THE VEHICLES DROVE ONTO BLACK ICE AND
COLLIDED.
By KATU.com Staff Published: Jan 17, 2015 at 10:57 AM
PST Last Updated: Jan 17, 2015 at 11:29 AM PST
BAKER CITY, Ore. – A major accident involving about 20
vehicles, including several semi-trucks, east of Baker City has closed a large
section of eastbound Interstate 84 this morning, according to Oregon State
Police and Oregon Department of Transportation officials.
The crash injured four people. They were taken to the
hospital with injuries ranging from minor to serious, OSP said.
Two of the vehicles were transporting hazardous
materials, police said. Officials are currently assessing those trucks to
determine the extent of the damage.
Police said the crash happened just before 5 a.m. when
the vehicles drove onto black ice and collided. The crash backed up traffic for
about 50 vehicles in the immediate vicinity.
Eastbound lanes were closed after the accident and will
likely remain so throughout the morning and possibly past noon, ODOT said.
Westbound lanes in Ontario were later closed to help emergency responders.
The eastbound lane closure extends through Pendleton, La
Grande and Baker City, according to ODOT. The agency advises travelers to
bypass I-84 in eastern Oregon.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated
throughout the day.
//__________________________________________//
UPDATE
//__________________________________________//
UPDATE
Black ice, steep terrain and poor visibility led to a series of
crashes early Saturday on Interstate 84 near Baker City, involving more
than 20 vehicles and shutting down a main arterial for hours, state
police said.
"I think we're fortunate that there weren't any fatalities here," said Sgt. Kyle Hove, an Oregon State Police spokesman.Of course some of the injured may suffer for their rest of their lifes with their injuries, at least they are not dead.
The pileup included more than a dozen semi-trucks and blocked dozens of vehicles from leaving. Some 50 vehicles remained at the crash site Saturday afternoon. Eastbound lanes are shut down from Pendleton to Ontario, more than 160 miles apart. Westbound traffic was also disrupted as authorities worked to clear the highway.
Hazmat teams are on site, too. "We're still trying to determine if we have hazardous material spilled or not," Hove said, noting that one truck was transporting hydrochloric acid.
Hove estimated that more than 100 people were involved in the crash. Ten troopers responded to the scene, coming from La Grande, Baker City and Ontario. Hove described a dramatic scene that included more than a dozen semi-trucks and scary encounters, including one driver who got out of his pickup only to watch it be crushed by an out-of-control semi.
Simply moving around the crash area is difficult because of the extremely slick black ice. Hove said he was forced to put chains on his boots to move around. Crews threw down deicer materials as well, but the area is still treacherous.
Tow trucks continue to move vehicles out of the crash area. "We were able to get some cars off the road," Hove said.
The stretch of highway where the first crash occurred is on a slight hill and a curve.
Hove credited "Good Samaritans" who were involved in the crash for stepping out of their vehicles and using flashlights to alert drivers to slow down. "They saved lives," Hove said. He said those same witnesses helped treat wounded people on scene.
Four people were transported to a Baker City hospital, Hove said. No information was immediately available on their conditions, although Hove said none sustained life-threatening injuries.
"I think we're fortunate that there weren't any fatalities here," said Sgt. Kyle Hove, an Oregon State Police spokesman.Of course some of the injured may suffer for their rest of their lifes with their injuries, at least they are not dead.
The pileup included more than a dozen semi-trucks and blocked dozens of vehicles from leaving. Some 50 vehicles remained at the crash site Saturday afternoon. Eastbound lanes are shut down from Pendleton to Ontario, more than 160 miles apart. Westbound traffic was also disrupted as authorities worked to clear the highway.
Hazmat teams are on site, too. "We're still trying to determine if we have hazardous material spilled or not," Hove said, noting that one truck was transporting hydrochloric acid.
Hove estimated that more than 100 people were involved in the crash. Ten troopers responded to the scene, coming from La Grande, Baker City and Ontario. Hove described a dramatic scene that included more than a dozen semi-trucks and scary encounters, including one driver who got out of his pickup only to watch it be crushed by an out-of-control semi.
Simply moving around the crash area is difficult because of the extremely slick black ice. Hove said he was forced to put chains on his boots to move around. Crews threw down deicer materials as well, but the area is still treacherous.
Tow trucks continue to move vehicles out of the crash area. "We were able to get some cars off the road," Hove said.
The stretch of highway where the first crash occurred is on a slight hill and a curve.
Hove credited "Good Samaritans" who were involved in the crash for stepping out of their vehicles and using flashlights to alert drivers to slow down. "They saved lives," Hove said. He said those same witnesses helped treat wounded people on scene.
Four people were transported to a Baker City hospital, Hove said. No information was immediately available on their conditions, although Hove said none sustained life-threatening injuries.
