Beer Truck Crash Closes Oregon Highway 58 East of Oakridge

The truck came to rest on its top on the highway as the trailer fell off an embankment and tumbled approximately 400 feet downhill. The driver was not injured.

Photos: Oregon State Police

(OAKRIDGE, Ore.) - A truck driver from the Aloha-area escaped injury Wednesday night after losing control of his commercial truck hauling beer on Highway 58 east of Oakridge. The truck overturned and trailer separated before it went down an approximate 400 foot embankment spilling its contents.

Scene down the 400 foot cliff

Police say the crash happened Wednesday at approximately 9:30 PM, it involved a 2000 Volvo truck towing a semi-trailer loaded with beer was westbound on Highway 58 near milepost 54.

Investigators say that as the truck and trailer were traveling downhill, it passed another truck and lost control. Oregon State Police troopers believe the brakes locked and it rolled onto its side.

The trailer separated from the truck and traveled about 400 feet down an embankment. The trailer was destroyed and its contents spilled along the embankment. The truck came to rest on its top on the highway, The driver, 54-year old Kevin J. Garrett of Aloha, was not injured.

Oregon State Police troopers from the Springfield and Oakridge work sites are continuing the investigation. Speed may have been a contributing factor. Garrett was cited for Failure to Maintain a Lane of Travel.

The eastbound lane has been blocked all night and will remain so until the scene has been cleared following clean up and vehicle removal. Flaggers are on scene to assist with moving traffic through the area in both directions.

The truck tractor and driver stayed on the highway, he was not injured