PORTLAND, Ore.(KOIN) — A semi-truck crashed through a guardrail on Interstate-84 and came to rest partially in the Columbia River on Monday evening.
Bystanders, according to the Corbett Fire Department, went into the water to assist the driver of the semi-truck. The semi-truck driver and 2 other people were transported to the hospital, where everyone is expected to be OK.
Daniel Farah is friend’s with one of the other people, aside from the semi-truck driver, who was transported to the hospital. Before the semi-truck went into the river, it hit a 1995 Chevy Tahoe SUV parked on the side of the road with 2 people inside. The SUV had ran out of gas and they were waiting for Farah to deliver them some. He was on his way there when he pulled up on the scene.
“I looked across the freeway and his rig was mangled,” Farah said.
A scary scene made even scarier because Farah didn’t know the status of his friend. He eventually learned that his friend, as well as the others, were going to be OK. Farah knows it could’ve been a much different situation.
“I’ll tell you what,” he said, “it’s a good think he’s alive, by the grace of god, he’s alive.”
Still, Farah questioned how a crash like this could happen. OSP Sergeant Kaipo Raiser said the semi-truck driver became distracted, looked in her mirror and hit the SUV parked on the shoulder. Raiser had a reminder for drivers.
“Pay attention to the roadway and keep your forward so they can stay in their own lane of travel,” Raiser said.
ODOT said the shoulder on I-84 westbound at milepost 23 are closed and that crews will return in the morning to remove the semi-truck. Traffic should be unaffected.