Truck driver cited after crash on Prineville grade

A truck driver was cited Tuesday after an investigation into a minor-injury rollover truck crash on Highway 126 west of Prineville that tied up traffic for hours, Oregon State Police said.

According to Sergeant Keith Taylor, shortly before 2 p.m., a Kenworth truck pulling a semi-trailer loaded with mint root stems driven by J. Monroe DeHaven, 34, of Sandy, was eastbound on Highway 126 near milepost 17.

While negotiating a downhill right curve the load shifted and the trailer and truck overturned onto their side, spilling the load and also leading to about 50 gallons of diesel spilling onto the highway.

A Prineville police officer witnessed the crash and initiated emergency response from OSP, Crook County Fire & Rescue, ODOT and a hazardous materials cleanup response team.

DeHaven, who received a minor injury, was cited by OSP for failure to drive within a lane.

The highway was mostly blocked for over four hours, with one lane of travel being flagged through during the clean-up, making for very slow going for many motorists.