Posted: Wednesday, July 2, 2008 12:00 am
A produce truck overturned Wednesday morning on Interstate 5 south of Salem, spilling produce and blocking northbound lanes.
The driver, David Sarmiento Medina, 21, of Philomath, was not injured.
According to Oregon State Police, here's what happened:
Around 5:45 a.m., the driver was distracted by smoke near his feet. When he looked back up he hit a highway work zone orange barrels and a variable message board trailer. The vehicle continued into a ditch and rolled onto its top, spilling boxes of produce onto the freeway lanes.
Both lanes were blocked temporarily before one lane was reopened.
The Oregon Department of Transportation, the Salem Fire Department responded along with OSP.
No citations were issued.
Thirty-five gallons of diesel fuel were pumped from the trucks tank. The truck has been marked with caution tape and signs because it will remain on the northbound shoulder until this evening when it will be righted and towed.
The final clean up may require lane closure beginning about 9 p.m.
ODOT and OSP are advising motorists to drive cautiously through the area and not to be distracted by the wreckage scene.