Hwy 20 near Santiam Pass reopens after crash

A three-vehicle serious-injury crash blocked Highway 20 east of Santiam Pass Friday afternoon as the first significant rainfall in weeks moved across the Cascades and into the High Desert.

The crash was reported around 3:20 p.m. near milepost 83 about two miles east of the summit, according to ODOT.

Both Life Flight and AirLink helicopters were called to the scene, along with Oregon State Police and Sisters and Black Butte Ranch fire department ambulances. Each helicopter carried a patient to St. Charles Medical Center-Bend.

At least three injuries were reported, and one person had to be cut out of a vehicle, though there were no early indications of life-threatening injuries.

Light rain was falling on the highway as the first responders arrived. ODOT’s TripCheck indicated delays at the scene were likely to be anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours. Around 4:30 p.m., officials said one lane was likely to reopen soon, easing a traffic backup reported to be two miles long.

We’ll have more details as they become available.