A crash involving multiple semi-trucks injured four people and closed part of Interstate 84 Saturday in Oregon.
The Oregon Transportation Department reported that more than a dozen semi-trucks were involved in the crash that occurred around 5 a.m. on the eastbound freeway near milepost 318, according to KGW.
Oregon State Police said about 20 vehicles drove onto black ice and crashed and closed the eastbound side of the interstate east of Baker City. Police said about 50 vehicles were stranded at the crash scene.
They said four people suffered injuries and were taken to the hospital, although they did not specify on the extent of the injuries. However, no one died in the crash, KATU reported.
Two of the vehicles were transporting hazardous materials, and hazmat crews responded to the scene. They found that nothing had leaked from the trucks.
Jolynn Stevenson and her daughter Rachel Lindsey stopped to help the those that were injured during the crash. Stevenson described the scene as horrific. There were mangled pieces of metal, spilled diesel fuel on the icy freeway, fog and injured, bleeding people everywhere.
Stevenson's husband Rodney said as they helped the injured and others, they could hear more cars slamming into one another.
"I was scared to death because we kept hearing crunches of tractor trailer and, you know, there weren't many cars out," he said. "It was just -- the crunches were so loud. I will never get rid of that noise."
Westbound I-84 was closed in Ontario at Exit 371, but reopened around 3:30 p.m. Saturday, KGW reported. Eastbound I-84 was closed at Exit 304 in Baker City, Exit 265 in La Grande and Exit 216 east of Pendleton. The cleanup would continue for several hours and into the night, but the eastbound lanes could open later Saturday night.
