Sign Post Pierces Windshield, Injuring Passenger on Highway 18

Two people were both transported to Willamette Valley Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

Photo: Oregon State Police

(SHERIDAN, Ore.) - Police say two Milwaukie-area residents were lucky Wednesday night after losing control of the sport utility vehicle on an icy stretch of Highway 18 west of Sheridan. Their vehicle struck a sign post that came through the windshield and struck the passenger.

Police say the crash was one of about a dozen non-injury police responded to Wednesday night during icy conditions in the area.

Oregon State Policed Spokesman Gregg Hastings says around 10:00 PM Wednesday, a 1998 Ford Explorer driven by 40-year old Lena A. Dow of Milwaukie, was eastbound on Highway 18 near milepost 28 when it lost control during icy highway conditions.

The Ford Explorer drove into the eastbound shoulder ditch and struck a highway sign which came through the windshield, striking passenger 47-year old Roger Boettcher of Milwaukie.

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"The Ford vaulted over Steel Bridge Road and went down an embankment about 100 feet where it came to a stop in a field of blackberry bushes," Hastings said.

Dow and Boettcher were both transported by West Valley Fire Department ambulance to Willamette Valley Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. Hastings says it is not clear whether or not they were wearing safety restraints.

A German Shepherd dog traveling in the vehicle was not injured. It was taken to Yamhill County Dog Shelter.

Oregon State Police troopers from the McMinnville Area Command office are completing the investigation.