SUV slams into semi on Hwy 30, driver hurt

This is a press release courtesy of the Oregon State Police

A 19-year old Columbia City resident was seriously injured Tuesday morning when his sport utility vehicle crossed the center line on Highway 30 near Columbia City and collided with the left side of a semi-trailer. Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers from the St. Helens office are continuing the investigation.
 
According to OSP Sergeant Larry Lucas, on August 25, 2009 at 5:45 a.m. a 2001 GMC Yukon driven by Joseph McMahon, age 19, from Columbia City, was westbound on Highway 30 near milepost 33 when it crossed the center line and collided into the left side of a semi-trailer pulled by a 2004 Freightliner truck.
 
McMahon was trapped inside and extricated using ‘jaws of life' by Columbia River Fire & Rescue personnel. After being removed from the vehicle he was transported by LifeFlight to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland.
 
The truck's driver, Elliot Schwartzkopf, age 43, from Hillsboro, was not injured. He was driving for Container Recovery Inc. out of Portland.
 
Both drivers were using safety restraints. The GMC's airbags deployed.
 
OSP troopers were also assisted at the scene by ODOT. The eastbound lanes were used to move traffic around the scene except for a brief period when the highway was closed for LifeFlight to land and transport the patient.

An investigation into why the SUV hit the truck is under way.