All southbound lanes of Interstate 5 were closed on Tuesday afternoon October 15th, just before 4:00pm, when Oregon State Police troopers and emergency personnel responded to a serious injury crash involving two Commercial Motor Vehicles on I-5 southbound at about just north of Woodburn.
Preliminary investigation revealed that a Volvo Truck and Semi-trailer, operated by 24 year old Gagandeep Singh from California, was southbound on I-5 and pulled to the shoulder due to smoke coming from under the truck. Gagandeep Singh and his passenger, 38 year old Baljit Singh, also from California, exited the truck and discovered that it was on fire.
A Freightliner Truck and Semi-trailer, operated by 51 year old Rex Hollopeter from Salem, was southbound in the far right lane when it sideswiped the Volvo Truck and Semi-Trailer. The Freightliner Truck and Semi-trailer caught fire and came to rest blocking all southbound lanes of the freeway. Both Commercial Motor Vehicles ultimately burned after the crash.
Hollopeter was transported by air ambulance to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland for serious injuries. Both Gagandeep Singh and Baljit Singh were outside of their truck and were uninjured.
As of late Tuesday night, authorities have stated that the southbound lanes of I-5 are expected to be closed indefinitely until ODOT personnel can assess the damage to the roadway.
