Deputies said a 61-year-old San Diego man was operating a white Freightliner commercial motor vehicle hauling a loaded trailer. The Freightliner had stalled on an uphill grade in the outside lane while heading northbound on I-5.
Canyonville, OR. – A man was killed after a traffic collision on Monday afternoon near Canyonville in Douglas County.
According to the Oregon State Police, the accident occurred at 3:00 p.m. on April 6, on Interstate 5 near milepost 90.
Deputies said a 61-year-old San Diego man was operating a white Freightliner commercial motor vehicle hauling a loaded trailer. The Freightliner had stalled on an uphill grade in the outside lane while heading northbound on I-5.
An 18-year-old El Sobarante, CA, man, was operating a maroon Honda CRV when he hit the freightliner causing the cargo in the semi-truck and the Honda to burst into flames.The semi had stalled several times while climbing the grade prior to the crash.
The Honda driver was declared dead at the crash site.
The Honda passengers, a 60-year-old man and an 18-year-old lady, all from El Sobrante, CA, were flown to local hospitals with severe injuries. The Honda driver and the lady are twins, and the 60-year-old man is their father.
A 19-year-old man of Hercules, California, a friend of the family, was taken to a local hospital by ground ambulance for treatment of minor injuries.
The semi-truck driver was not hurt in the collision.
Police believed impairment played a role in the accident. The Freightliner driver was arrested on DUI and manslaughter charges.
Traffic delays were experienced in the area for around three hours to give way to an on-scene investigation.
The Canyonville Fire Department, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Glendale Valley Fire Department and the Oregon Department of Transportation assisted at the scene.
An investigation is underway.
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