 |
`Made
an emergency landing. That's all'
Fiery crash? Not quite. But still a blazin'
hot ride
Large M-37 claims get their first hearing
CIM/CAM frustrates teachers, elected
officials
|
240 proves hazardous |
|
Two wrecks in as many days closes the road twice
and sends two to area hospitals |
By Gunnar Olson, Newberg Graphic
reporter
E-mail Gunnar at golson@eaglenewspapers.com |
There were two accidents in two days this week along a mile-long
stretch of Highway 240 just outside Newberg.
The first was a three-vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon that sent one
woman to the hospital and gallons of diesel fuel onto the roadway
and, possibly, into a nearby creek.
Two days later, midmorning Thursday, another accident occurred less
than a mile away. A dump truck rolled on its side. The driver went
to the hospital. The truck scattered its load of rock along the
highway and leaked oil on the road.
Oregon State Police Trooper Mark McDougal, who responded to both
accidents, said that stretch of road was not known for accidents any
more than others. Speeding didn’t seem to figure into either of the
accidents this week.
State police figure Tuesday’s accident was caused when a car
crossed the center line around 3:55 p.m. near Chehalem Creek Bridge
on Highway 240. The car sideswiped a truck, which hit a third
vehicle.
The truck lost one of its gas tanks. The tank ruptured, spilling
diesel onto the roadway and threatening to contaminate the creek
below.
“We tried to catch as much as we could,” said Newberg Fire Chief
Michael Sherman.
He said fire personnel and public works employees used shovels to
build a makeshift dike out of dirt. Sherman figured they were able
to contain half to three-quarters of the fuel in the tank, which he
estimated to hold 100 gallons.
The driver who reportedly crossed the center line was 47-year-old
Kim Facchini of Yamhill. She was transported by Life Flight
helicopter to Legacy Emanual Hospital in Portland. A hospital
spokesperson said she was still there at 9:50 a.m. Friday and in
fair condition.
OSP Lt. Marti West said Thursday morning that investigators were
working to reconstruct the accident, and that the investigation was
expected to be completed within the week. Police hadn’t determined
whether anyone would be ticketed, West said. A preliminary
investigation found:
Facchini was heading westbound when she crossed over the center
line. Her 1992 white Toyota Camry struck an oncoming Freightliner
truck and trailer. Her airbag deployed, but it is unknown whether
she was wearing a seatbelt.
The driver of the truck was 44-year-old Manuel Gomez Pantoja of
Lebanon. He was wearing his seatbelt and received minor injuries.
In trying to avoid the accident, Pantoja locked up the truck’s
brakes, lost control and went into the oncoming lane. It hit a 2004
green Mazda MZ3 driven by 18-year-old Verelle Stuck of Tualatin. She
was wearing a seatbelt and received minor injuries.
Less than 48 hours later, the dump truck rolled. Oregon State
Police said it appeared the driver drifted into the ditch and
couldn’t steer the right front tire back onto the road.
It went about 50 feet until it hit a driveway. The truck slid on
its side for another 50 feet or so, coming to a rest in the middle
of the road, driver’s side down.
The driver was 72-year-old James Caldwell of Carlton, driving for
Grade Line Construction. West said Caldwell was not wearing a
seatbelt and received injuries to his head.
Firefighters pulled him from his cab, lifting him up out of the
passenger window. He was transported by ambulance to Providence
Newberg Hospital. |
|
From April
30,
2005, Newberg Graphic
Click Here to Subscribe |
|
|
