Slick conditions in the Gorge cause many wrecks
TROUTDALE, Ore. – Winds whipping through the metro area and the cold temperatures made for major problems Thursday night in the Columbia River Gorge.
It was bitterly cold and windy at the truck stop in Troutdale and the on-ramp nearby to Interstate 84 eastbound was not where drivers wanted to be heading.
Cars and trucks crashed along that freeway near Corbett and Bridal Veil exits because of the slick road conditions. Oregon State Police said they hadn't had any reports of injuries by 11 p.m.
ODOT crews started deicing the roads after the crashes started happening in bunches.
Eric Linthwaite, a teacher in Camas, and a friend drove back to Troutdale from the Gorge where they were trying to climb ice. Linthwaite had left his car near the truck stop and got back to find it covered in freezing rain.
"We were trying to climb ice in the Gorge, and yet while there's ice all over everything, there's not enough ice to actually climb," he said while scraping the ice off his windshield.
He said the road conditions in the Gorge were very slick and he and his friend saw several wrecks.
Meteorologist Dave Salesky said there is a Winter Weather Advisory through the Gorge until 4 a.m. Friday.
By the way, on top od woodard raod and Gresham it was nothing but rain. The last 100 ft of elevation was a killer.
I live 700 ft above Troutdale at the end of the gorge and let me tell you it was slicker than snot! My van went off the road and I had to try and walk my brother who had a stroke and had no balance 500 ft to our home. You could not stand up in the ice and wind. A farmer gave us a ride on his tractor which could barely make it up the hill and several times began to slide backwards. But we made it home thanks to him! Im ready for spring!
"Maybe we shouldn't have been out here (under the tree) for this shot..."
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DUH! You are telling people to use common sense, yet the report and videographer did the same stupid mistake.
Troutdale was dangerous last night because people were coming in off the freeway on wet streets that turned to black ice in downtown. So, they'd accelerate through the left turn signal into town and then go skidding off up the street as soon as they realized people were slipping everywhere.
Slow down!!!!!!!Increase the Space between you're car and the car infront of you.