A winter storm led to a significant multi-vehicle accident involving over 20 cars, trucks, and semi-trucks in northwest Oregon on Thursday. The incident occurred on Interstate 84 near Multnomah Falls, approximately 30 miles east of Portland. According to Oregon State Police, four individuals were transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
Initially, deputies from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office reported that more than 100 vehicles were involved in the crash. “An SUV ignited during the pileup on I-84, which deputies described as involving over 100 vehicles,” the sheriff’s office stated. “Fortunately, everyone managed to escape the burning SUV. Responders are assessing each vehicle, and while there are reports of injuries, no specific numbers are available yet.”
However, the sheriff’s office later revised their estimate to around 20-30 vehicles, attributing the earlier miscalculation to the severe weather conditions that complicated accurate counting. “Following a detailed assessment by responders, the current estimate is that 20-30 vehicles were involved in the crash on I-84 west of Multnomah Falls,” the office clarified. Low visibility made it challenging to distinguish between vehicles involved in the crash and those that were simply stopped. A nearby weather station reported over four hours of steady snowfall, wind gusts exceeding 25 mph, and visibility of a quarter-mile or less.
Additional accidents, including another involving more than 20 vehicles, were reported in other areas of Multnomah County. The hazardous road conditions also extended into Washington and Idaho. In Clark County, home to Vancouver, officials reported numerous crashes attributed to low visibility and slick roads due to snow, as noted by the Washington State Department of Transportation. In Castle Rock, about 60 miles north of Portland, another incident involving 15 vehicles, including several semis, blocked the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 for hours, creating a 10-mile backup. Although the road has since reopened, significant delays persist.
Idaho also experienced crashes on I-84 near the Oregon border, with Idaho State Police reporting at least two incidents due to whiteout conditions. These dangerous conditions resulted from a powerful winter storm sweeping through the Pacific Coast, part of a vast 1,500-mile weather system that may bring freezing rain later in the day.
