Police Call Early Morning Crash a Reminder for Drivers to Lookout for Highway Crews and Vehicles

Oregon State Police cited the commercial truck operator for Careless Driving.

Photograph Source: Oregon State Police

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Even though the snow and ice has mostly disappeared, police say a crash early Tuesday morning is a reminder of the need to watch for highway maintenance workers and vehicles as they work to keep our area roads safe to travel on.

This morning at approximately 3:45 PM, three ODOT maintenance vehicles were involved in sweeping loose sanding material in the far right southbound lane of Interstate 5 near milepost 286 north of Wilsonville.

State Police officials say an ODOT dump truck operated by 53-year old Kenton W. Brenner was at the rear of the slow-moving maintenance vehicles with flashing amber lights and directional arrows displayed to move rear approaching traffic to the center and left southbound lanes.

The driver of an approaching commercial truck was distracted and looked down to pick up a dropped object.

When truck's driver looked up he noticed the ODOT vehicles and swerved to the left. The right rear side of the semi-trailer sideswiped the ODOT dump truck's left rear corner.

The truck's driver, 62-year old Robert F. Butler of Salem, kept control of his truck and came to a stop. No one was injured.

Oregon State Police Recruit Trooper Tyler Bechtel cited Butler for Careless Driving.