S. Oregon gas tanker truck hits cow; driver killed
(Update: Driver identified; road reopened with flaggers)
A fuel truck driver was killed Monday night when his rig struck a large black cow standing on state Highway 38 in Douglas County, sending the truck off the road and into a power pole, Oregon State Police said.
Emergency personnel remained on the scene overnight of the crash at milepost 21, near Scottsburg.
OSP Captain Tim Fox said a preliminary investigation found the 2012 Kenworth truck towing two fuel tanks was heading west on the highway when it struck the large black cow standing in the road. The driver lost control and the truck left the roadway and hit a power pole.
The driver sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene, Fox said. The cow also ws killed.
The driver later was identified as Charles Stephens, 59, of Eugene.
The truck was carrying 7,500 gallons of gasoline and 2,500 gallons of diesel fuel. Fox said an unknown amount of each fuel leaked out of the tanks. Hazardous materials clean-up crews were assisting at the scene with the environmental impact.
Fox said Highway 38 was closed while the spill is cleaned up and contained. Flaggers were controlling traffic through the area by the afternoon as the spill was cleaned.
