Truck jumps median, sparks three-car crash on Interstate 5

Summary

A Coos Bay woman lost control of her pickup hauling a 25-foot travel trailer on Interstate 5 and crossed the median, causing a three-car accident that closed the southbound lanes. Two people from Roseburg were injured.

Story Published: Jun 28, 2008 at 3:36 PM PST

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2008 at 9:22 PM PST

Truck jumps median, sparks three-car crash on Interstate 5

EUGENE, Ore. - A Coos Bay woman lost control of her pickup hauling a 25-foot travel trailer on Interstate 5 and crossed the median, causing a three-car accident that closed the southbound lanes.

Four people were injured, including two from Roseburg.



Wendy D. Tams lost control of the 1996 Chevrolet pickup she was driving after the 25-foot travel trailer began to sway dramatically. As Tams steered in an attempt to control the trailer, she was unable to do so and her pickup struck the median barrier.

The pickup separated from the travel trailer, continued over the concrete barrier into the southbound lanes where it landed on the hood of a 2000 Toyota Celica driven by Shelby J. Kytola, 21, from Roseburg.



After hitting the Toyota, the pickup continued across the southbound lanes and was struck in the driver's side by a northbound 2004 Peterbuilt truck driven by Alfonso Perez III, 41, from San Antonio, Texas.

The travel trailer came to rest on its side, blocking the left northbound lane.

The Chevrolet and Toyota were extensively damaged and all southbound lanes were blocked.

Tams and an 18-year old male passenger, Robert Layne from Coos Bay, had minor injuries. They were later transported by an OSP trooper to Sacred Heart Hospital for an evaluation.

Kytola and his 18-year old female passenger, Keely Newman from Roseburg, had non-life threatening injuries.  Both were transported by Eugene Fire ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital.

Perez was not injured.

All involved vehicle occupants were using safety restraints. The Toyota's airbags deployed in the crash.

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