Serious Crash Near Forest Grove Halts Traffic for Hours (PHOTOS)

Head on crash injures ten on NW Wilson River Highway west of Forest Grove.

Serious crash in Forest Grove Monday Photos courtesy: David Nemeyer/Forest Grove Fire & Rescue

(FOREST GROVE, Ore.) - Firefighters from Forest Grove and Banks responded to a three-car motor vehicle and mass casualty incident accident this evening at approximately 6:30 p.m.

The serious injury crash happened at the intersection of NW Wilson River Highway and NW Gales Creek Road in rural Washington County Monday evening.

David Nemeyer, Public Information Officer with Forest Grove Fire & Rescue, says that when firefighters from the Gales Creek Fire Station arrived, they learned that a late model Toyota Pickup had been traveling westbound, when it rear-ended a stopped BMW Sedan that was preparing to turn.

He says a Ford SUV that was traveling east bound then crashed head on into the BMW.

"Ten people were injured in the crash, including a 16-year old female passenger in the SUV that was transported by Life Flight to Oregon Health Sciences University."

Nemeyer says four others were transported by ground to Providence St. Vincent's in Portland, and five others were treated by Forest Grove Fire & Rescue Paramedics on scene and released.

"The crash closed the highway for a number of hours while firefighters worked the scene and law enforcement reconstructed the accident. This created a long traffic jam for travelers who were using the popular highway to the Tillamook area as part of their Memorial Day weekend," Nemeyer said.

"This evening's crash was the latest in a crazy Memorial Day Weekend for Forest Grove firefighters. Since Friday at 5:00 p.m., firefighters from Forest Grove Fire & Rescue have responded on five motor vehicle accidents on the State highways and rural roads in Western Washington County."

Firefighters urge motorists to take it slow, Nemeyer said, especially on crowded highways during holiday weekends. And they also remind you that, "it is better to get there late then to not get there at all because you crashed."

Tough logic to beat.