Early morning accident near Orondo leaves one injured

by Dennis Rahm, photos courtesy of Curtis McClellan

A 71-year old truck driver escaped from his cab after his tractor-trailer rig left the roadway, crashed through a guardrail and ended up floating in the Columbia River. The accident was reported at 1:13 am on Highway 97 in Douglas County about two miles north of Orondo near Mile Post 227.

Trooper John Bryant of the Washington State Patrol says the injured driver, Conda Raddy, was transported to the hospital in Chelan for treatment. Said Bryant, “it’s very fortunate the driver wasn’t trapped in the cab”.

The accident did cause about a two-hour closure of the northbound lane of Highway 97 early Thursday morning. Bryant said it’s possible there could be another closure later today as efforts are made to retrieve the truck and trailer.

The Department of Ecology is also involved in the investigation as they will look into the possibility of any fuel leaking into the river. The cause of the accident is under investigation by the Washington State Patrol.

Additional information and photo released by Douglas County Fire District 4

Just after 1 am, a motorist reported rocks in the roadway on US 97 8 miles south of the Beebe Bridge. A state patrol trooper was dispatched to check on the roadway and found damaged guardrail and semi in the river. He heard someone yelling for help and found the driver of the semi on the Columbia River edge.

Fire and aid were dispatched, using high angle rescue rope techniques to bring the patient up the steep embankment in stokes basket stretcher. He was treated at the scene and then transported to Lake Chelan Community Hospital.

The semi-tractor was entirely submersed in the river. The drive self-extricated and swam to shore. The trailer was partially submerged. Efforts are ongoing to protect the River from environmental release and recover the truck and trailer.

It is believed the trailer was empty on the way to Brewster to pick up fruit.

There were nine firefighters on scene from Orondo Fire and Chelan Fire, three EMS personnel from Lake Chelan Community Hospital and five law enforcement officers from Douglas County Sheriff and the Washington State Patrol along with five fire apparatus.

Photo: Douglas County Fire District 4