Operation Trucker Check 17" at Ashland Port of Entry

The 17th interagency operation focusing on removing impaired truck drivers and unsafe commercial vehicles from Oregon's roads is currently underway at the Interstate 5 Ashland Port of Entry. "Operation Trucker Check", a 48-hour interagency operation, began at 12:01 a.m., September 22, and ends at 11:59 p.m., September 23, with police officers and truck inspectors working with Drug Recognition Evaluators (DRE) and K9 officers targeting operator impairment, vehicle safety, and potential criminal activity related to commercial vehicle operations.

First held in 1998 at the Ashland Port of Entry, "Operation Trucker Check" is a successful enforcement and inspection program that provides an ongoing look into commercial vehicle and driver safety. The around-the-clock operation involves a team of police officers and Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) commercial vehicle inspectors looking for driver impairment related to alcohol, drugs, or fatigue, and vehicle equipment safety. Trucker check operations have also previously been held at the Woodburn Port of Entry and in Klamath Falls, Ontario, and Cascade Locks.

The last "Operation Trucker Check" was held during a 72-hour period April 7 – 9, 2009 at the Interstate 5 Woodburn Port of Entry. A total of 463 commercial vehicles were inspected of which 53 (11.4%) were placed out-service for critical safety violations. Ninety-three (93) drivers were also placed out-of-service for assorted safety violations including excessive driving hours, log book deficiencies, and driver qualification issues. Officers and inspectors issued 42 motor carrier-related citations and 367 warnings. Five arrests were made for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and four drivers were cited for Driving While Suspended.

"This program continues to be successful and is a blueprint for how others have developed similar trucker inspection programs in other parts of the country," said Sergeant Dave MacKenzie, who oversees the OSP Motor Carrier Enforcement Unit. "With the support of the Oregon Trucking Association, ODOT and participating police agencies, these unannounced safety inspections help get dangerous impaired drivers and unsafe vehicles off the road before something bad happens."

Sergeant MacKenzie pointed out the program's four goals for "Operation Trucker Check 17":

1) Identifying commercial vehicle driver and equipment violations, with an emphasis on out-of-service violations;
2) Detecting operator impairment by alcohol and/or substance abuse;
3) Detecting operator impairment by fatigue; and,
4) Detecting any criminal activity occurring in conjunction with commercial motor vehicle operations.

Oregon State Police (OSP) and ODOT will work toward these goals by conducting Level I, Level II, and Level III truck inspections to identify drivers impaired by fatigue or substances, compliance with federal hours of service regulations, and federal requirement for commercial motor vehicle safety equipment. Trained Drug Recognition Evaluators (DREs) from OSP and the following agencies will evaluate and identify drug or alcohol impaired drivers:

Ashland Police Department
Eugene Police Department
Corvallis Police Department
Medford Police Department

According to 2008 statistics provided by ODOT's Motor Carrier Transportation Division:

* 60,550 truck safety inspections were conducted in Oregon, down from 61,349 in 2007
* During inspections, critical safety violations were found in 28% of the vehicles and 19% of drivers
* Most common mechanical violation found during inspections continues to be brake-related
* Over 9,900 truck drivers were found during inspections falsifying or keeping inaccurate log books, a sharp rise from the more than 7,000 drivers caught in 2007 and more than 5,000 in 2006

TEN INJURED, TWO CRITICALLY, IN MULTI-MOTORCYCLE CRASH

TEN INJURED, TWO CRITICALLY, IN MULTI-MOTORCYCLE CRASH - INTERSTATE 5 SOUTH OF WILSONVILLE

en motorcyclists traveling together as part of the Brothers Speed Motorcycle Club was injured, two critically, Friday afternoon in a multi-vehicle traffic crash south of Wilsonville on Interstate 5. Partial information has been provided for release this evening.

On September 18, 2009 at approximately 2:45 p.m. approximately 26 motorcycles were traveling northbound in the left inside lane near milepost 282 in a formation of two columns when traffic ahead began to come to a stop. The first two motorcycles maneuvered to avoid a collision with the stopped vehicle, but the rest of the motorcycles could not react in time and crashed into the vehicle in front of their group and into each other.

Medical responders arrived and subsequently transported eight motorcyclists by ground ambulance. Two others identified as HERBERT SINCLAIR, age unknown, from Heyburn, Idaho and DAVID BOWYER, age unknown, from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and were transported by LifeFlight to Oregon Health Sciences University and Legacy Emanuel Hospital, respectively.

Both men are reported in critical condition.

No information is available tonight regarding the other individuals involved in the crash. The total number of motorcycles that actually crashed is not confirmed at this time.

Interstate 5 northbound lanes were closed for about two hours before one lane was opened. All lanes of Interstate 5 were open at approximately 5:40 p.m.

Oregon State Police troopers were assisted at the scene by Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, ODOT and other area emergency responders.

No other information available for release

Photograph Source: Oregon State Police

OSP Traffic Stop Leads to 70 lbs. of Marijuana

ONE ARREST - INTERSTATE 5 SOUTH OF ASHLAND

An Oregon State Police (OSP) traffic stop Wednesday morning led to the arrest of a California man and the seizure of approximately 70 pounds of high grade marijuana on Interstate 5 south of Ashland. The seized marijuana has an estimated value of $210,000.

On September 16, 2009, at approximately 6:37 a.m., an OSP trooper stopped a silver 2007 Pontiac G-6 displaying California license plates southbound near milepost 3 for a traffic violation. The lone occupant/driver was identified as EFRAIN NAVA, age 30, from Redwood City, California.

A subsequent investigation related to the stop led to the discovery of high-grade marijuana in sixty individually packaged plastic bags and a large black plastic garbage bag concealed within the trunk and back seat portions of the vehicle. The marijuana weighed approximately 70 pounds.

NAVA was arrested and lodged in the Jackson County Jail for Unlawful Possession, Distribution and Manufacturing of a Controlled Substance-Marijuana. Bail is set at $60,000.00.

Photograph Sources:

Marijuana photo – Oregon State Police

INJURED IN BICYCLE CRASH DURING CYCLE OREGON SOUTH OF GRANTS PASS

BOISE WOMAN INJURED IN BICYCLE CRASH DURING CYCLE OREGON SOUTH OF GRANTS PASS
Posted: September 16th, 2009 5:36 PM

An Idaho woman participating in Cycle Oregon was seriously injured Wednesday morning when she crashed on her bicycle on Highway 199 south of Grants Pass. The woman is reported in stable condition at Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford.

Preliminary information indicates on September 16, 2009 at approximately 8:30 a.m. CATHERYN ALEXANDER, age 48, from Boise, Idaho was riding northbound with a group of cyclists along Highway 199 near milepost 11. The group ahead of her began to slow down and her bike's front tire hit the back tire of another bicycle. ALEXANDER lost control and fell into the northbound lane.

ALEXANDER was wearing all required protective equipment including a helmet. She was transported from the area by Mercy Flights to Rogue Valley Medical Center.

Oregon State Police troopers arrived on scene about five minutes after the bicycle crash. The northbound lane was briefly closed while the cyclist was treated at the scene before transport.

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