Thursday,  December 12 , 2024

Linkedin Pinterest
News / Northwest

120-plus evacuated after Oregon motel explosion

The Columbian
Published: August 24, 2011, 5:00pm

NEWBERG, Ore. (AP) — Investigators don’t know what touched off an explosion in a motel room in the Willamette valley town Newberg, but they have ruled out a meth lab or a gas line as causes.

Newberg-Dundee Police Capt. Jeff Kosmicki said investigators are still gathering evidence at the Best Western Newberg Inn, where a 3 a.m. blast Thursday forced the evacuation of 123 guests.

Kosmicki said in a statement that a 29-year-old man critically burned in the explosion is considered a suspect, but no arrests have been made. He was flown to a Portland-area hospital.

There were no obvious injuries to the 26-year-old woman and 2-year-old girl staying in the room, but they were taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Support local journalism

Your tax-deductible donation to The Columbian’s Community Funded Journalism program will contribute to better local reporting on key issues, including homelessness, housing, transportation and the environment. Reporters will focus on narrative, investigative and data-driven storytelling.

Local journalism needs your help. It’s an essential part of a healthy community and a healthy democracy.

Community Funded Journalism logo
Loading...