PHOTO COURTESY OF OSP
An eastbound lane of Interstate 84 is closed near Arlington after a commercial truck carrying a large load of potatoes overturned early this morning.
Oregon State Police (OSP) is continuing the investigation into the cause of Tuesday morning’s accident about 12 miles west of Arlington. As a precaution, the truck driver was taken to an area hospital for a medical evaluation and one lane is open while the Oregon Department of Transportation is on scene coordinating vehicle removal and guardrail damage assessment.
According to the OSP, a 1997 Peterbilt truck pulling a semi-trailer loaded with potatoes was traveling eastbound on Interstate 84 near milepost 126. According to the driver, he swerved to miss several deer that were on the road and lost control. The truck and trailer crashed into the guardrail on the right shoulder and overturned, spilling the load onto the shoulder.
The truck and trailer came to rest on the guardrail partially blocking the right eastbound lane. The driver appeared not injured but was taken to an area hospital for a medical evaluation.
Approximately 230 feet of guardrail was damaged.
No injured or dead deer were found in the area. OSP and ODOT urge all travelers to be alert for wildlife on or near our roads, especially in October and November which are the two busiest months for vehicle-wildlife collisions.
Anyone with information or who witnessed this crash is asked to call OSP Southern Command Center dispatch at (541) 776-6111.
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