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A log truck driver was uninjured Thursday morning after his unloaded log truck struck two elk and rolled off Highway 101 near Bob Creek Wayside on the central Oregon coast.
Early Thursday morning Oregon State Police (OSP) from the Newport Office responded to the rollover collision. According to Senior Trooper Bryan Fitch, the truck was traveling northbound when it encountered several elk standing on the northbound shoulder. As the the truck driver, James Davis, slowed and tried to move around them, two elk ran in front of his truck.
Davis was unable to avoid the elk and collided with both of them. One of the animals got stuck under the front steering axle of the truck, causing a loss of steering control. The truck began to skid and slid across the southbound lane for approximately 180 feet before traveling off of the roadway and over a downward embankment where it rolled onto the driver’s side and came to rest.
The 51-year old Jasper man was wearing his seatbelt and uninjured. Once the truck came to rest, the passenger side fuel tank began to leak fuel into the passenger cabin and onto the ground. An estimated 50 to 60 gallons leaked out before the truck was set back onto its wheels.
Yachats Rural Fire Protection District arrived on the scene and minimized the fuel leak. ODOT and Northwest Hazmat responded to the scene for fuel clean up and no local waterways were threatened.
One lane was closed for approximately 4 hours while the truck was being removed. The log truck is owned by Koos Transportation out of Coos Bay. No citations were issued.
