'Distracted' trucker hits barrier, semi burns

This is a press release courtesy of the Oregon State Police

Oregon State Police cited the driver involved in a non-injury commercial truck fire Monday afternoon that closed both directions of Interstate 84 at Mosier for over 90 minutes.

During the follow up investigation, the driver, who was cited for careless driving, changed his story and admitted that his distraction and not a tire blowout caused the crash.

On April 27, 2009 at 5:20 p.m., a 2007 Freightliner truck pulling a semi-trailer loaded with unspecified mixed freight was operated by Jeremy Falk, age 23, from New Berlin, Wisconsin, westbound on Interstate 84 near milepost 70.

Falk originally told the investigating trooper that the front left tire had a blowout prior to the truck hitting a temporary construction barrier on the south side of the freeway. The impact ripped off the steering axle and fuel tank as the truck and trailer caught fire. Falk  escaped uninjured.

A follow-up investigation led to Falk  being cited as noted in the lead paragraph.

Interstate 84 was closed for 1 hour 40 minutes while Mosier Fire Department and Pine Grove Fire Department worked to control and extinguish the fire. ODOT assisted with traffic control and one lane was opened about 7:00 p.m.

Traffic reportedly was backed up for 3 1/2 miles during the closure.

The truck and front half of the semi-trailer, along with its load, was destroyed.