A semi truck collided with a vintage Volkswagen van Monday morning on Highway 34 southwest of Philomath.
Philomath Fire & Rescue responded to the call at 8:34 a.m. near milepost 51, approximately seven miles south and west of its intersection with Highway 20 and three miles east of Marys Peak Road.
Capt. Rich Saalsaa, public information officer for Fire & Rescue, said the Volkswagen van had been traveling eastbound in the tight curve section of the highway when it met up with the semi, which was carrying ridged 18-inch piping and headed westbound.
“The semi truck appears to have cut the U-shaped curve too tightly and hit the vintage VW van at the windshield, shearing it off and hooking on the driver’s side door post, dragging the van several feet,” Saalsaa said.
Saalsaa said two people in the van were able to exit the vehicle with one being transported to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis for further evaluation. The injuries were described as “not life-threatening.”
The highway was closed for about 30 minutes.
“We were able to use a tow chain and one of our vehicles to separate the van from the semi so that the road could be reopened,” Saalsaa said.