Two vehicles sustained heavy damage but both drivers appear to have escaped without any significant injuries in a collision Tuesday afternoon on Alsea Highway about a half-mile north of its intersection with Highway 20.
The crash occurred just after 5 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 34 and Old Peak Road.
“On arrival we found a pickup truck on its side at the southwest corner of the intersection and another vehicle in the northbound lane with heavy front-end damage,” Philomath Fire and Rescue Deputy Fire Chief and Public Information Officer Rich Saalsaa said. “The male driver of the pickup was assisted out of his vehicle by two passersby and was standing next to his truck. The male driver of the second car was also standing by his car.”
Saalsaa said both drivers were checked over by emergency medical crews and both refused transportation to the hospital.
Highway 34 was closed for approximately 20 minutes while fire crews swept debris from the road to be able to open one lane. Crews spread absorbent on an oil spill from the truck that had flipped over on its side.
Philomath Fire and Rescue’s response included an engine crew of five plus Fire Chief Chancy Ferguson as the incident commander and Saalsaa. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office and the Philomath Police Department were at the scene to handle traffic control duties and conduct an investigation.