A collision between a semi-truck and a car just south of the Bellfountain Road and Airport Avenue intersection on Thursday afternoon sent one of the drivers to the hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening, Philomath Fire & Rescue reported.
Emergency responders were dispatched to the crash at 1:03 p.m. The crash forced the car off the roadway and into a ditch where the driver, a woman estimated to be in her 70s, was unable to exit.
Deputy Chief Rich Saalsaa said the driver was entangled in the vehicle, which was suspended over the ditch, which made it impossible for her to get out on her own. Fire & Rescue crews helped disentangle the woman while providing full spinal precautions considering the force of the wreck.
Bellfountain Road was closed for approximately 30 minutes while responders worked the scene.
The car’s driver was transported via Corvallis Fire Department ambulance to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. The semi-truck had full front-end damage with a ruptured radiator.
Philomath Fire & Rescue responded with an engine company and five personnel from Station 201 in Philomath as well as an engine with one person from Station 203 at Inavale. Fire Chief Chancy Ferguson served as the incident commander at the scene.
The Philomath Police Department and Benton County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the scene.