Rural Metro Fire and AMR-Josephine County were dispatched to a multi-vehicle crash on northbound Interstate 5 near Sunny Valley 5 miles south of Wolf Creek.
Initial reports indicated that 20 people were injured and at least 2 semi trucks were involved, one was on fire, along with multiple cars and the crash location varied from MP 71 to 75.
Due to the escalating size of the incident, additional units from Grants Pass Department of Public Safety and Wolf Creek Rural Fire Protection District were mobilized, along with multiple units from Oregon State Police and Oregon Department of Transportation.
Access to the scene slowed responding rescue crews due to the backup of traffic, but they were able to make their way on the right shoulder most of the way.
Upon arrival, they found the one semi truck carrying recycled vehicles involved in fire, and only about 6 cars involved in the crash. After extensive triaging of patients, and separating out bystanders, 5 people required transport to the hospital for evaluation. 2 of the patients were children. No injuries were life-threatening.
The report of a crash at MP 75 was accurate, but was unrelated and had occurred around an hour earlier. It involved a car-hauler that overturned. Caveman Towing Inc was en route to that crash when they came upon MP 71. They were instrumental in clearing traffic so that fire and medical units could reach the scene.
Northbound traffic remained shut down for several more hours as ODOT evaluated the damage caused to the pavement from the fire and fuel spill.
Oregon State Police is investigating the cause of the crash.
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