EUGENE, Ore. — Two people died and four were rescued and hospitalized Sunday morning after the group drove off a steep embankment outside of Willamina.
Around 6:15 a.m., responders from Sheridan, SW Polk, and West Valley Fire districts were dispatched to the area of 20200 Willamina Creek Road for a traffic collision.
Dispatchers were initially told there were four to six people in a vehicle that had gone off a cliff.
When crews arrived, they found three patients in two separate locations along the road. All three were transported to Salem Hospital.
McMinnville Fire Department’s Rope Rescue Team responded and Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office deputies were able to locate the crash site, which was about 2 miles up the road from where the other patients were found.
The vehicle was 100 or more feet down a steep embankment. Crews were able to rescue one more patient from the vehicle. This patient was taken by helicopter to a Portland hospital.
The remaining two occupants of the vehicle died due to injuries before crews arrived. The Rope Rescue Team recovered the two victims as well as the vehicle.
No identities or possible causes were released.
Sheridan, SW Polk and West Valley crews were assisted by McMinnville Fire Department, who provided the Rope Rescue Team and covered the area for additional EMS calls. Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police also provided assistance.
Officilas are reminding the public drive safely as traffic increases as COVID-19 restrictions ease and the weather improves.
