Truck crash leads to series of wrecks

Published 5:00 pm Tuesday, December 28, 2021

BAKER CITY — A semitrailer lost control on an icy curve on Interstate 84 near Rye Valley, southeast of Baker City, Sunday morning, Dec. 26, leading to a chain reaction in which several other vehicles were damaged.

There were no serious injuries, although several drivers and passengers suffered minor injuries, according to an Oregon State Police report.

The incident started just before 10 a.m. when truck driver Teresa S. Hubbard, 59, of Knoxville, Tennessee, was westbound near Milepost 342, about 38 miles southeast of Baker City, and slid on the slick pavement and careened off a steep embankment.

The trailer was partially blocking one westbound lane, and several other vehicles crashed when they reached the site, according to a report from OSP Sgt. David Aydelotte.

Shortly after the chain reaction of crashes, a Lexus SUV crashed into an Oregon Department of Transportation snowplow that was helping with the incident.

Several vehicles, including the semitrailer, had to be towed.

The truck crash caused significant damage to the concrete barrier in the center of the freeway and destroyed a section of guardrail, according to Aydelotte’s report.

The semi also spilled approximately 150 gallons of diesel.