Sheriff's Patrol Vehicle Severely Damaged in Freeway Collision

The tow truck driver, a retired Captain from the Turner Fire Department, had the training and background to provide medical attention to the injured driver until medics arrived.

Photos courtesy: Marion County Sheriff's Office

(SALEM, Ore.) - Marion County Deputy Scott Kometz was investigating a non-injury crash just after 3:30 a.m. today near the Delaney Road overpass in the South bound lanes of I-5.

Lt. Sheila Lorance with the Marion County Sheriff's Office, says a Precision Tow truck had just arrived to assist in moving the vehicle that had lost control because of icy road conditions.

"Deputy Kometz's patrol car was parked on the right shoulder with the overhead lights on when another south bound vehicle lost control due to the icy roads and collided into the back of the patrol vehicle," Lorance said.

"Fortunately, Deputy Kometz was not in his vehicle at the time of the collision but saw the vehicle approaching and ran from the area to avoid being hit."

The driver of that vehicle, 34-year old Steve W. Patten of Albany, had to be extracted from his vehicle which had come to rest on the driver's side. Mr. Patten was transported to the Albany Hospital with non-life threatening injuries and later released and the patrol vehicle received extensive damaged.

The tow truck driver who was on scene, is a retired Captain from the Turner Fire Department and has been with Precision Towing for over 17-years.

Lorance says that because of his training and background, he was able to provide medical attention to the injured driver until medics arrived.

Precision Towing contacted the Sheriff's Office later and indicated Deputy Kometz had done an outstanding job in keeping everyone safe at the scene before and after the crash.

A representative of the company said Deputy Kometz had gone above and beyond and stayed at the original crash scene until the tow truck arrived and remained on scene to ensure everyone remained safe.

"Unfortunately his patrol car was severely damaged but no one else was hurt because of the great work done by Deputy Kometz and the driver of the tow truck," the Precision Towing representative said.