At least seven people died and several others were injured in a crash that closed part of Interstate 5 north of Albany Thursday.
Oregon State Police responded to the crash around 2 p.m. The agency said the crash involved two semi-trucks and a passenger vehicle in the northbound lanes near the Santiam Rest Area in Marion County.
A section of I-5 northbound north of Albany remained closed into late evening. It reopened before midnight Thursday, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.
The passenger vehicle involved was a van, the Albany Democrat-Herald reported. A witness told the Salem Statesman Journal it appeared the van had been crushed between the two trucks.
“Judging by the damage, it looked like the van was sandwiched,” Adrian Gonzalez said. “It got hit very hard.”
He described to the newspaper two Life Flight helicopters landing nearby and taking people away while paramedics treated others on the ground.
UPDATE: A detour will be placed on NB I-5, using Exit 238 to OR 164, Jefferson Hwy, and into the evening commute due to a multi-vehicle crash about 7 mi. north of #AlbanyOR. Expect delays from backed-up traffic. #SlowDown as you approach the area - watch for emergency responders. pic.twitter.com/LJPjuLhJSa
— OregonDOT (@OregonDOT) May 18, 2023
Material from the Associated Press is included in this report.