This story was updated with more details at 5:12 p.m. Saturday, April 13.
A 46-year-old man apparently distracted by a phone call entered Philomath on the west end of the couplet in the wrong direction and crashed into two eastbound vehicles Friday night, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office reported.
Although all three vehicles were heavily damaged, there were reportedly no serious injuries.
“The driver that caused the crash was on his phone but he had a hands-free device,” Sgt. Scott Bressler said, identifying the driver as a 46-year-old man. “He went east on Main instead of turning on the couplet — went left instead or right.”
Philomath Fire and Rescue’s Rich Saalsaa said Highway 20 was closed for approximately 30 minutes. Saalsaa described the crash as a “glancing blow to the other two vehicles.”
“Because of the way the vehicles were struck, it prevented more serious injuries,” Saalsaa said. “The fact that all occupants wore seatbelts and the airbags deployed properly contributed to everyone’s safety.”
Emergency responders were dispatched at 8:16 p.m. to the crash, which occurred in an area near a railroad crossing west of The Woodsman. Philomath Fire and Rescue initially sent a truck with four personnel and an incident commander to the scene.
“On arrival, there were three vehicles with considerable damage — one vehicle just west of the railroad tracks and two vehicles in the couplet exit all on westbound Main Street,” Saalsaa said.
The drivers of the other two vehicles involved in the crash were a 30-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man.
One vehicle with a driver only that came to rest on the west side of the railroad tracks had a broken back drive axle. Another vehicle with no passengers was facing the wrong way on Main Street next to a planted median and had major damage to the driver’s side. The third vehicle with a driver and one passenger was located at the side of the road with significant damage to the front end on the driver’s side.
“All vehicles were undrivable and had airbag deployment,” Saalsaa said. “Despite the significant damages to all the vehicles, there were only minor injuries and all refused transportation to the hospital.”
Bressler said BCSO’s notes on the incident indicated that the 46-year-old driver did end up going to the hospital. It’s not immediately known if the man was cited for causing the crash.
During the 30-minute road closure, personnel processed the scene and vehicles were towed off the roadway.
In addition to the first responders, Philomath Fire and Rescue also sent a rescue vehicle with three personnel. In addition to BCSO, the Philomath Police Department was also at the scene.