Pickup, hog truck collide on Highway 97 in Redmond

(update with police description of what occurred, road reopening)

A pickup truck crossed into the oncoming lanes of Highway 97 on Redmond’s south end Monday evening and collided head-on with a semi -truck hauling pigs, sending the pickup driver to the hospital and shutting down the highway for over an hour, police and fire officials said.

The crash occurred shortly before 6 p.m. just south of the Odem Medo Way intersection, diverting traffic in both directions onto area side streets.

Police Sgt. Ryan Fraker said the driver of the small pickup was heading north and apparently crossed into the oncoming lanes, colliding head-on with the semi.

Redmond Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Puller said a man was trapped in the Ford Ranger pickup and crews used hydraulic tools to free him and take him by ambulance to St. Charles Bend. Fraker said the pickup driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries,while the semi driver – and hogs — were unhurt.

The semi was removed from the scene shortly after 7 p.m. and lanes of the highway began to reopen before 7:30 p.m.

No names were released pending contacting family and further investigation.

Fraker said Redmond Police want to thank the fire department for its valuable assistance at the crash scene.