SIXTY car pile-up in Oregon kills at least one: Drivers blame heavy fog caused by massive wildfires in freezing Washington state
- Oregon State Police confirmed one person was killed in the pileup near Halsey
- The crash happened around 8am on Interstate 5 between milepost 228 and 211
- At least 45 passenger cars and 15-20 Commercial Motor Vehicles were involved
- Several people were transported to the local hospitals, conditions unknown
- School buses assisted in relocating at least 30-40 stranded motorists
- HAZMAT is responding to six of the trucks that are leaking fluids onto roadway
At least one person is confirmed dead after 60 cars were involved in a crash in Oregon after heavy fog from neighboring Washington state caused by massive wildfires reduced visibility.
The crash in Willamette Valley near Halsey, Oregon occurred around 8 a.m. Wednesday as the extremely thick fog, caused by smoke from raging wildfires trapping moisture at the surface covered Interstate 5.
Oregon State Police later confirmed that at one person was killed in the pileup and at least three people were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital. An unknown number of motorists were transported to Riverbend Hospital. Their conditions are not known.
Interstate 5 remained completely blocked with a detour in place, as crews continued to work late into the day to clear the scene of at least 45 passenger vehicles and about 15-20 Commercial Motor Vehicles.
Video posted to social media showed stranded motorists making their way through the mangled metal of crushed cars. Semi-trucks transporting Hefe beer, chips and other food products had been split open in the crash, their contents spilling out.
At least one person is confirmed dead after 60 cars were involved in a crash in Oregon after heavy fog from neighboring Washington state caused by massive wildfires reduced visibility
At least 45 cars and 15-20 commercial motor vehicles like trucks are pictured smashed into each other on Interstate 5 southbound, which is completely blocked with a detour in place
The cable barrier has been dropped to help detour vehicles caught in the gridlock on I-5
The Oregon Department of Transportation has temporarily dropped the cable barrier to detour vehicles caught in the gridlock on Interstate 5, police said.
School buses from Eugene have arrived on the scene to assist in relocating 30-40 stranded motorists to Pioneer Villa at exit 216.
DEQ and HAZMAT are responding to approximately 6 of the CMVs that are leaking fluids onto the roadway.
The foggy conditions were made worse by the high humidity combined with the wildfires in Washington state. Today was forecast to be the final day of unseasonable heat for Western Oregon, local weather forecasters said.
Dozens of wildfires have plagued Western U.S. states in recent years, as climate change exacerbates drought patterns.
This is turn has dried out trees and other plants to make fuel as warm temperatures and high winds provide dangerous conditions for fires to grow.
For current information about detours and when the roadway will be re-open, call 511 or www.tripcheck.com
This is a developing story.
School buses from Eugene have arrived on the scene to assist in relocating stranded motorists
Dozens of wildfires have plagued Western U.S. states in recent years, as climate change exacerbates drought patterns. Pictured is the gridlock on I-5 after the crash
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