Ore. Fire Truck Damaged in I-5 Crash

June 02--No one was injured, but a Rogue River fire engine that had responded to a vehicle crash off Interstate 5 Wednesday sustained extensive damage when a pickup slammed into the back of the parked vehicle.

The incident happened at about 6:30 p.m. in the freeway's southbound lanes just north of Exit 43. Engine No. 7401 from the Rogue River Fire District had originally responded to provide aid for a single vehicle crash that had been reported minutes before, according to Capt. Nicco Holt.

That original crash happened after a vehicle slammed into the median's cable barrier, Holt said. The engine responded to protect the ambulance and the crash scene, straddling the fog line and the fast lane.

About 15 minutes after arriving, a pickup driven by 79-year-old Donald Howard of Portland crashed into the back of the fire truck.

"The engine crew was actually on their way back to the engine, getting ready to clear the scene," Holt said.

The impact crumpled the fire truck's right rear corner, damaging multiple compartments and pushing the mangled mass into the right rear tire, Holt said.

"The tow company had to use one of their tow trucks to winch some of that back before they could tow it," Holt said.

Oregon State Police cited Howard for "following too close," OSP said. Neither the firefighters nor Howard were injured.

The crash caused significant delays for southbound motorists, as both lanes were blocked and traffic had to creep by on the shoulder. All I-5 lanes were back open by about 8:30 p.m., according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.

The damaged engine will be out of commission for an extended period of time.

"We're looking at several weeks if not months," Holt said.

Until then, engine No. 7410 will serve as the department's first responding engine, with engine No. 7404 -- a 1978 Mac with manual transmission -- taking its place as the second engine out.

-- Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or rpfeil@mailtribune.com. Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil.

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