Truck plunges into Mt. Hood forest

MADRAS, Ore. - A commercial truck driver drove off Highway 26 and crashed early Saturday morning.

The crash shut down the mountain highway between Warm Springs and Madras for hours. Traffic remained controlled by flaggers as of Saturday afternoon, and the highway isn't expected to be fully open until Saturday evening.
 
Just before 4 a.m. Saturday a 2008 Volvo commercial truck, pulling a utility trailer loaded with groceries, reportedly plunged from Highway 26 and into the woods below.

Oregon State Police Senior Trooper Jed Rzegocki tells KATU that the truck was driven by 28-year-old Ruby Scroggins from Sherwood, Ore. It was traveling eastbound on U.S 26 near milepost 108.5, which is about 4 miles east of Warm Springs.

As the truck and trailer traveled near Northwest Pelton Road, the driver reportedly fell asleep and veered into the guardrail.

"The truck and trailer went over guardrail and down the embankment, with the tractor coming to rest about 70 feet from the roadway," Rzegocki reports.

As much as 50 gallons of diesel fuel leaked from the vehicle after impact. A haz-mat team from Prineville's SMAF Environmental was called in for the cleanup, and the fuel has reportedly been "contained."

According to police the crash was not reported until 5:12 a.m. Scroggins "refused medical treatment" and was cited for failure to maintain his own lane.

Oregon State Patrol troopers from Madras investigated the crash. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Oregon Department of Transportation and SMAF Environmental assisted.