A truck driver suffered minor injuries in a crash that mangled his tractor and caused a trailer loaded with wood pallets to fall into an Oregon river.
It happened Wednesday afternoon on Highway 38, over the Scottsburg Bridge. The truck was hauling empty wood pallets when it lost control and struck a bridge wall. The impact caused the trailer to break and fall into the Umpqua river below.
Oregon DOT says the crash caused structural damage to the bridge, which will be closed indefinitely.
The driver of the truck, 26-year-old, Sergi Borodin, was trapped inside the cab and had to be extricated from the vehicle. Despite the severe damage to the rig, Borodin was taken to a nearby hospital with only minor injuries, local KPIC-4 news reported.
Police believe speed may have been a factor. A full investigation into the incident is underway.
An estimated reopening time for the bridge is not known, however officials say it could take weeks. Drivers are advised to use Highway 42 or Highway 126 as a detour.