A commercial truck driver and his dog escaped serious injury Tuesday morning after his truck and trailer traveled off Highway 140W about six miles west of Klamath Falls and went into the ice-covered Upper Klamath Lake. Oregon State Police (OSP) is continuing the investigation into the cause of the crash and ODOT is coordinating removal of the vehicle from the lake.
On December 31, 2013 at approximately 6:41 a.m., a commercial truck pulling an empty semi-trailer driven by CARL HANSEN, age 73, from Medford, was eastbound on Highway 140W near milepost 58. For an unconfirmed reason, the truck traveled across the westbound lane, off the shoulder and into the ice-covered Upper Klamath Lake. The truck and trailer broke through ice, coming to rest partially submerged in the water.
HANSEN escaped through the passenger side window and crawled across the ice to the embankment. After emergency responders arrived, he was transported by ambulance to Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. He was driving for Hansen and Sons Trucking out of Medford.
His dog was spotted running on the ice at an unspecified distance from the crash scene. The dog was rescued and brought back to the highway by Klamath County Fire District No. 1 personnel.
OSP troopers from the Klamath Falls Area Command office responded to the scene. Recruit Trooper Thomas Andreazzi is the lead investigator.
OSP was assisted at the scene by Klamath County Sheriff's Office, Klamath County Fire District No. 1, Klamath County Dive Rescue, and ODOT.
Photographs - Oregon State Police
### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
On December 31, 2013 at approximately 6:41 a.m., a commercial truck pulling an empty semi-trailer driven by CARL HANSEN, age 73, from Medford, was eastbound on Highway 140W near milepost 58. For an unconfirmed reason, the truck traveled across the westbound lane, off the shoulder and into the ice-covered Upper Klamath Lake. The truck and trailer broke through ice, coming to rest partially submerged in the water.
HANSEN escaped through the passenger side window and crawled across the ice to the embankment. After emergency responders arrived, he was transported by ambulance to Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. He was driving for Hansen and Sons Trucking out of Medford.
His dog was spotted running on the ice at an unspecified distance from the crash scene. The dog was rescued and brought back to the highway by Klamath County Fire District No. 1 personnel.
OSP troopers from the Klamath Falls Area Command office responded to the scene. Recruit Trooper Thomas Andreazzi is the lead investigator.
OSP was assisted at the scene by Klamath County Sheriff's Office, Klamath County Fire District No. 1, Klamath County Dive Rescue, and ODOT.
Photographs - Oregon State Police
### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###