3-truck smashup at Foster & Powell sends woman to hospital

Published 12:00 am Sunday, December 22, 2024

On Thursday, November 21, three pickup trucks were involved in a smashup during the evening rush hour, at the complex intersection of S.E. Foster Road, 50th Avenue, and Powell Boulevard.

At 6:54 p.m., East Precinct officers, Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) , and an ambulance were sent to this incident describedas an “injury accident with entrapment”.

Officers found three smashed pickup trucks: a Chevrolet S10, a RAM 1500, and a GMC pickup.

One of the occupants had called 9-1-1, and told the operator that that person was trapped in the smoking vehicle and could not escape. A crew from PF&R Woodstock Station 25’s Ladder Truck Company – equipped with power rescue tools – was dispatched to the scene. Moments later, PPB officers radioed that everyone had managed to get out of their vehicles, and that the rescue equipment wasn’t needed.

However, two of the three trucks were disabled in the eastbound lanes of Powell Boulevard, and were blocking westbound movement of Foster Road. The third truck’s driver was able to move his vehicle into the Burger King parking lot.

An officer started up one of the trucks, revved up the engine, and with tires smoking and squealing as they rubbed against the truck body, managed to drive it out of the intersection. An ODOT Highway Emergency Response truck hooked a tow cable to the other truck, and dragged it a bit south on S. E. Foster Road – where it was eventually moved out of the street by a tow truck.

An ambulance lingered at the scene; a PPB officer confirmed that a woman involved in the smashup would being taken by ambulance to a local hospital for observation and treatment.

Men from the three vehicles were cordially exchanging information on the corner; one of them admitted fault in the crash. However, looking at the mangled vehicles, it wasn’t possible for us to pinpoint which truck was actually his.

Some good advice: Drive carefully, especially with darkness coming early this time of year.