A more than 40-mile stretch of Interstate 84 was closed for hours Monday following the fiery crash of a semi-truck carrying hundreds of gallons of combustible fluids.
TripCheck reported the single-vehicle crash happened about 7 a.m. Monday near Bonneville Dam at milepost 40, closing all lanes of traffic between Troutdale and Hood River.
The Oregon Department of Transportation said the incident began when a tire blew on a semi hauling a crane boom and a flatbed trailer, causing it to crash into the median barrier and spilled an estimated 200 gallons of fuel, oil and antifreeze.
The truck, operated by 37-year-old Marvin Klopfenstein, plowed through the cement barrier into the eastbound lane where it jackknifed and rolled onto its side, Oregon State Police reported.
The truck slid on the cement barrier and caught on fire. The driver escaped with only minor injuries.
The pavement was also gouged in places and medians needed to be repaired before the highway could reopen. Westbound lanes of I-84 were closed as far as The Dalles — 20 miles east of Hood River.
OregonDOT on Twitter: “Photos of incident in I-84, which is closed in both directions between Troutdale and Hood River. pic.twitter.com/x7ZLryvP3F / Twitter”
Photos of incident in I-84, which is closed in both directions between Troutdale and Hood River. pic.twitter.com/x7ZLryvP3F
Travelers were detoured onto SR 14 on the Washington side of the Columbia River and U.S. 26 over Mount Hood, which was the advised route for large commercial vehicles.
The stretch of I-84 did not fully reopen until after 3:30 p.m. Monday.
OSP was assisted by Multnomah County Sheriff’s office, ODOT, Cascade Locks Fire, Gerlock Towing, and Purdy’s towing. US Ecology responded for environmental cleanup.
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For information regarding highway status, visit www.tripcheck.com.
