Interstate Closed For Fiery Crash That Claimed Trucker’s Life

Oregon police say that a semi truck driver lost his life in a crash in Portland last night.

The crash happened just before 9 p.m. on Wednesday, August 21, on northbound I-5 near the Southwest Barbur Boulevard exit in Portland.

Authorities say that a tractor trailer crashed into a sign and caught fire, but the cause of the crash remains unclear as of Thursday morning.

A witness told local news outlet KPTV, “We were just coming back from Vancouver and we saw this Target 18-wheeler just suddenly jet across the freeway and then there was a bunch of flames.”

The unidentified driver of the semi truck did not survive the crash.

Northbound I-5 between Southwest Haines Street and Southwest Capitol Highway have been closed since last night and are expected to remain closed until noon on Thursday at the earliest.

The Oregon Department of Transportation has brought in a crane to move the damaged highway sign onto the shoulder, but they say that it is a “slow and difficult process.”

Expect delays! A crane will move the I-5 sign bridge to the shoulder so the NB lanes can reopen but it’s a slow and difficult process. ODOT hopes to have the lanes open by noon Thursday. Find alternate routes! pic.twitter.com/rA81LuNPZu

— Oregon DOT (@OregonDOT) August 22, 2019

Heavy traffic delays have been reported in the area. You can follow @trafficportland on Twitter for the latest traffic information.