Firefighter van, semi collide; 10 hurt, 1 critically
The driver of a van carrying 10 contract wildland firefighters fell asleep and the van collided nearly head-on with a semi-truck on Highway 126 west of Prineville early Tuesday, critically injuring one passenger, Oregon State Police reported.
The other nine firefighters in the van were treated and released, and the van driver was cited, troopers said.
The collision occurred around 2:15 a.m., as a 2000 Chevrolet van carrying 10 people was en route to the John Day area, responding to assist firefighting efforts at a wildfire, troopers said.
The van driven by Jeremy Miesner, 35, of Salem, was eastbound on Highway 126E near milepost 12, negotiating, a curve when Miesner fell asleep, troopers said.
The van drifted into the westbound lane and crashed into the left front side of a Freightliner truck driven by Scott Ramage, 48, of Washington.
The van sustained major left side damage and all 10 occupants were taken by ambulance or helicopter to Bend, Prineville and Redmond hospitals. The truck’s driver and 39-year old male sleeping passenger were not injured.
after the initial investigation, Miesner was cited by OSP for failure to drive within a lane..
OSP was assisted at the scene by several agencies including Crook County Sheriff’s Office, Prineville Police Department, Crook County Fire & Rescue, LifeFlight, Air Link, and ambulances from the city of Redmond and Jefferson County.
Transported by ambulance to Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Prineville where they were treated and released for minor injuries:
* Driver Miesner
* Christopher Reed, 29, from Sheridan
* Rogelia Saimc, 22, from Salem
* Jesus Medera, 38, from Independence
Transported by air ambulance and ground ambulance to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend:
* Pedro Lemus Ramos, 37, from Salem, treated and released for minor injuries
* Manuel Perez Abriz, 40, from Salem, treated and released for minor injuries
* Marcelino Cuesta-Romero, 39, city of residence unknown, is in critical condition
Transported by ground ambulance to St. Charles Medical Center in Redmond where they were treated and released for minor injuries:
* Jovita Romero (female), 36, from Woodburn
* Jose Salas, 20, from Salem
* Jerson Mendoza, 33, from Salem
According to the Oregon Department of Forestry, the fire crew works for Lava River Forestry out of Salem. They were en route to assist firefighting efforts at the Briley Mountain Fire.
The crash and investigation closed the highway for about 90 minutes before one lane reopened.
Crook County Fire Marshal Casey Kump said a “mass casualty incident” was declared when the first crews arrived, including two engines and three ambulances from that agency, two Redmond Fire ambulances and an ambulance from Jefferson County EMS.
“Everyone is relieved that this wasn’t more serious than what it turned out to be,” said Lt. Gregg Hastings, OSP’s public information officer.
Hastings said whether it’s the firefighters who respond late at night, people who work shift hours or the people who don’t get enough rest, drowsy drivers are out there.
“This is a problem that is a danger on our highways,” Hastings said. “More than half of all Americans have said they have driven while they were drowsy, according to some studies done by the National Sleep Foundation.”
The Oregon Department of Forestry prepares firefighters not only to battle fires but also to drive safely, too.
“We do have work rest rules for the crews so that we don’t have situations in which the driver is driving too long, increasing the risk, ” said agency Information Officer Rod Nichols.
Nichols said the department has had very few accidents over the years.
“These private crews are trained and know the way to safely drive, but there can be a lapse once in a while,” Nichols said. “And in this case, that appears to have happened.”
“To know that nine of the 10 people were treated and released, and everybody is hoping that the 10th person recovers and recovers soon,” Hastings said. “It was a big relief for those who were out there dealing with it at the scene.”
