BIGGS JUNCTION, Ore. — Crews on Monday removed two semi-trucks that crashed off Interstate 84 and landed in the Columbia River over the weekend. The westbound lanes of the highway were closed for several hours Monday but have reopened.
The two incidents happened a few hours apart but both took place at the same location near Biggs Junction, according to Oregon State Police.
Around 7 a.m. on Monday, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) closed I-84 westbound from Biggs Junction to Celilo to recover the vehicles. A detour was put in place. Crews used special equipment, including a large crane, to remove the trucks from the river. ODOT said the westbound lanes reopened just before 1 p.m.
TRAFFIC UPDATES: Check tripcheck.com for the latest updates on Monday's I-84 closure
The first truck was hauling two trailers and crashed just before 9 p.m. Friday when the driver hit an abandoned vehicle that was parked on the shoulder of the freeway, smashing through the guardrail and plunging into the river. The driver was able to swim to shore and was not injured, according to the Sherman County Sheriff's Office.
The second truck crashed just before 12:30 a.m. Saturday as emergency responders were on scene for the first crash. A semi with two fuel tanker trailers in tow struck an Oregon Department of Transportation vehicle, slid off the freeway and crashed into the river next to the first two trailers. Investigators said the driver likely fell asleep before the crash. The sheriff's office said the tanks were empty.
The ODOT vehicle had its emergency lights on and was not occupied. The second truck driver was also uninjured, police said.
