Truck Hauling Apples Crashes Into Columbia River
A trucker was injured yesterday when he lost control and crashed off of Washington’s State Route 243 into the Columbia River, leaving a trailer full of apples floating towards the Priest Rapids Dam.
The crash happened around 2 p.m. on slick roads north of Mattawa. Washington State Police say that the truck driver lost control on a curve, crashing through the guardrail, then rolling down an embankment into the Columbia River.
SR 243 MP18 CLOSED. Semi collision into Columbia River. Trailer w/ apples floating towards Priest Rapids Dam @GrantPUD assisting w/ recovery pic.twitter.com/j427lEWNOp
— Trooper Brian Moore (@wspd6pio) February 6, 2017
Troopers say that part of the cab remained on the bank of the river and that the driver was able to get out. The trailer, however, broke free from the cab and began floating down the river.
Thank you @GrantPUD for additional photos of SR 243 trailer in Columbia River. https://t.co/EJMdlaayNF pic.twitter.com/0HTQJW8K42
— Trooper Brian Moore (@wspd6pio) February 7, 2017
Authorities used boats to guide the trailer onto a sandbar and then tied it to a large tree, securing the trailer until they figure out a plan to remove it.
Thanks @petemcafee for photo of cargo trailer floating down Columbia River. Trailer secured on sand bar but will assess in morning to remove pic.twitter.com/axMo0QOcg1
— Trooper Brian Moore (@wspd6pio) February 7, 2017
The truck driver was taken to the hospital. His injuries are listed as serious but non-life threatening.
Washington State Police said the truck driver was going too fast for conditions.
Pic of semi being removed from river on SR 243. I don’t have any pics of trailer floating down river. Apples are still contained in trailer pic.twitter.com/KL6KGqVth1
— Trooper Brian Moore (@wspd6pio) February 7, 2017
Sources:
NBC Right Now
KREM
KOMO News