OSP car hit on I-5, sgt. narrowly escapes injury

Oregon State Police said they were looking Saturday for a van that drifted off Interstate 5 in Marion County and struck a sergeant’s marked patrol SUV parked along the shoulder, narrowly missing the officer.

The collision occurred around 1:30 a.m. after the trooper had parked on the northbound shoulder of the freeway at milepost 268, just south of Woodburn, trying to find two other cars reported to be speed-racing in the area.

The sergeant was standing outside the Ford Explorer when he realized the van was coming toward him and “had to jump back in his car to avoid being hit” OSP Sgt. Kyle Hove said in a news release. He was unhurt, but was unable to pursue the van that continued heading north due to the damage to his vehicle.

Evidence at the scene indicated the involved vehicle was a 2000 to 2005 faded red Chevy Astro van, with right-front headlight and quarter panel damage.

Any witnesses or anyone with information was asked to call OSP Sergeant Kevin Ely at (503) 378-3387 or NCC Dispatch at (503) 375-3555.