Trucker Escapes Serious Injury After Being Pinned Inside Overturned Semi

Police say it happened north of Medford on Interstate-5.

Photo of overturned truck near Medford: Oregon State Police

(MEDFORD, Ore.) - Despite having a leg pinned inside an overturned commercial truck for about one hour, a commercial truck driver was not seriously injured Sunday afternoon in one of two separate traffic crashes on Interstate 5 north of Medford, state police said. Oregon State Police Sergeant Mark Byrd says an OSP trooper on patrol Sunday at approximately 4:40 p.m., pulled up to a crash scene on Interstate 5 at milepost 26, where two vehicles were involved in separate crashes.

At one of the crash scenes, a commercial truck was overturned in the grassy center median with its driver pinned inside. The trooper immediately called for an ambulance to respond, Byrd said.

Toopers learned that the 2002 Peterbilt truck driven by 26-year old Nahharar Singh of Tracy, California was northbound on Interstate 5 near milepost 26 when, for unknown reasons, he drove off the highway into the center median strip and the truck overturned.

Byrd sayd the truck had been traveling in the right lane when it drifted over into the left lane causing a 2001 Toyota pickup operated by 44-year old Keithy Ashker of Medford to swerve into the median to avoid crashing into the truck.

"No contact was made between the two involved vehicles. The truck continued drifting off the highway into the median and flipped onto the driver's side pinning Singh's leg under the cab." Emergency responders arrived on scene and treated Singh until Caveman Towing arrived. The tow driver was able to secure the truck and lift the wreckage off Singh's leg. Singh was then transported to Three Rivers Hospital in Grants Pass.

"Even though he was pinned under the truck for over fifty minutes, driver Singh miraculously did not suffer any broken bones in his leg," Byrd said.

Ashker was also transported to Three Rivers Hospital and was treated for a minor injury. At the time this article was published, Interstate 5 was still restricted to one lane in both directions.

Byrd says OSP troopers are continuing their investigation. ODOT, Rogue River Fire Department, and Mercy Flights ground ambulance assisted.

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