Trucker jumps out before truck goes down steep embankment

Due to icy road conditions on Wednesday morning on Highway 37, northeast of Hermiston, OR, a semi-truck hauling a container loaded with empty propane tanks slid off the highway and into the canal 120 feet below.


Thankfully, according to the East Oregonian, the truck driver narrowly escaped and was unharmed. The driver reportedly jumped out of the passenger side door just before the truck slid down the embankment.

The truck will be “difficult to remove” from the crash site, according to Fire District 1 Chief Scott Stanton. Some hazardous materials spillage was involved as 10 gallons of motor oil that had leaked from the truck had to be collected from South Cold Springs Creek.