One killed in Oregon after 60 vehicle crash in thick fog
One person was killed after thick fog caused several crashes along Interstate 5 near Harrisburg, Oregon. Officials say visibility was near zero, with thick fog compounded by smoke from nearby wildfires.
Thick fog blamed for deadly Oregon pileup; Interstate 5 now reopened
Angela Beers Seydel, Public Information Officer for the Oregon Department of Transportation, provides an update on the deadly Oregon pileup in thick fog.
LINN COUNTY, Ore. – One person was killed after thick fog was said to cause several crashes along a busy Oregon highway Wednesday.
Paramedics and police flocked to Interstate 5 near Harrisburg, Oregon, after multiple pileups were reported around 8 a.m.
About 60 vehicles were involved in a crash that closed 17 miles of highway.
(Oregon State Police / FOX Weather)
Officials say visibility was near zero, with thick fog compounded by smoke from nearby wildfires.
Visibility at the time of the accident was around 1/16 of a mile in nearby Eugene.
(FOX Weather)
The National Weather Service reported 0 visibility around 7 a.m. and about 1/16 of a mile at the time of the accident in Eugene which is about 18 miles away.
The Oregon State Police reported that 15 to 20 commercial trucks and 45 passenger cars were involved.
The accidents closed I-5 SB for almost 17 miles just north of Eugene. The backup extended for about 4 miles. Even Route 99W, used as a detour, was at a standstill through the area.
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Image 1 of 3Several accident shut down I-5 SB, stranding motorists. (Oregon State Police)
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Image 2 of 3Police report one fatality and several injuries. (Oregon State Police)
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Image 3 of 3A series of crashes, one deadly shut down I-5 in Oregon. (Oregon State Police)
So many people were stranded on the highway that authorities summoned school busses from Eugene to transport 30-40 victims away while calls went out for tow trucks.
Police ordered school busses to the scene to transport motorists stuck in the accident.
(Oregon State Police / FOX Weather)
Hazmat crews are on the scene attending to about six commercial trucks that were leaking fluids.
(Oregon State Police / FOX Weather)
ODOT says the roadway will be closed for several more hours at least.
The National Weather Service issued an Air Quality Alert and a Smoke Air Quality Advisory for the region. A capping dome of high pressure has kept the stagnant air locked into the Pacific Northwest for almost a week.