Larrry said:
bus accident and one killed- any new info
15 hurt, one dead in freeway rollover early today
Written by CHRIS COLLINS Baker City Herald November 12, 2009 11:28 am
Scott Skinner, Oregon State Police collision reconstructionist, puts together clues and evidence leading to a crash that occurred on Interstate 84 Thursday morning near Baker City.Fifteen members of a Colorado church group were injured, and one died, when the 2002 Ford van they were traveling in went out of control on black ice in the westbound lanes of Interstate 84 near Baker City early today.
Oregon State Police Lt. Dave MacManiman said the crash happened about 5:23 a.m. today at Milepost 302, near the Highway 86 interchange.
The group, which included nine women and seven men ranging in age from 18 to 26, made a brief stop in Baker City just before the crash. The van was continuing west on icy highway conditions when it went off the road and rolled multiple times before coming to rest on its top near the center median, MacManiman said.
Fourteen of the occupants were ejected from the van. The woman driver was using safety restraints and received nonlife-threatening injuries, MacManiman said.
Amy Dunkak of St. Elizabeth Health Services said 13 of the crash victims, including the man who died, were transported to the Baker City hospital and three were taken to Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande.
Baker City Fire Chief Jim Price said the La Grande Fire Department was called for mutual aid as soon as the “mass casualty incident” was called about 6 a.m.
La Grande sent two ambulances, which each transported one patient to Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande. A Baker City ambulance took the third patient to the La Grande hospital.
Price said the three taken to La Grande were deemed stable enough to make the trip, taking some of the pressure off St. Elizabeth’s staff.
Seven of the patients involved in the crash were in “critical” condition, Price said.
Price expressed appreciation for those who assisted his crew, including Oregon State Police, Baker City Police and emergency service workers from La Grande, Keating and Baker Rural fire departments, as well as bystanders who pitched in to help.
“It was a very complicated and very stressful situation,” he said. “We appreciate all the help we got.”
Four patients were flown by LifeFlight helicopter from St. Elizabeth to St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise for further treatment, and one other patient was being prepared for flight at 10:15 a.m. today, Dunkak said.
Three of the crash victims were discharged from St. Elizabeth Health Services this morning, Dunkak said.
“The Baker City Nazarene Church is going to open its Family Life Center for them to stay in until they can rally and prepare to go home,” Dunkak said.
Nazarene Church Pastor Jon Privett has asked anyone who would like to help contribute to expenses associated with housing the group to call him at the church at 523-3533.
Dr. Nancy Hutnak declared a disaster at the hospital this morning because of the number of crash victims. That sent out a call for hospital staff to respond. At the height of the incident this morning about 65 hospital employees were working, Dunkak said.
That included seven doctors and staff performing diagnostic tests and lab work as well as workers preparing rooms, finding clothing for the victims and managing LifeFlight helicopters as they flew.
“Everybody’s moving like bees in a hive,” when a disaster is called, Dunkak said. “Everybody had a job to do and they just kept on keeping on.
“It’s been sad, but it feels stable now,” she said shortly after 10 a.m.
With the initial emergency over, staff members turned their efforts to caring for the victims’ needs as they were released, Dunkak said.
Al King of Mountain Valley Mental Health, and Jerry Nickell, who provides pastoral support for the hospital, met with patients as they were being discharged. Others in the community also have responded to help the victims, Dunkak said.
The van is affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Masters Commission of the New Life Worship Center at Federal Heights, Colo., according to a Web site, the address for which is printed on the side of the van. Police said the group was traveling to Portland for a conference to raise funds for the commission’s mentoring program.
Black ice is being blamed for multiple freeway crashes in the Baker City area this morning with temperatures ranging in the mid 20s to low 30s. The temperature at the Baker City Municipal Airport, which is less than two miles from the crash scene, reported a temperature of 31 degrees at 4:53 a.m., about half an hour before the crash, and 28 degrees at 5:53 a.m.
Tom Strandberg of the Oregon Department of Transportation issued a travel advisory at 9 a.m. today because of the hazardous driving condition.
“Black ice is one of the worst conditions,” Strandberg said. “(Travelers) need to slow down and be extra cautious.”