Wild Weather hits NW Oregon and SW Washington

A commercial truck driver received minor injuries Monday morning when high winds blew his truck and semi-trailer over onto their side on the Highway 101 Astoria-Megler Bridge. The bridge remains closed until a tow truck can remove both vehicles later this afternoon.

According to Trooper Jessica Spurlock, on November 19, 2012 at approximately 10:00 a.m., a 2011 Volvo truck pulling an empty 53-foot semi-trailer driven by RODNEY L WOODZELL, age 50, from Dayton, Ohio, was traveling southbound on Highway 101 near milepost 3 over the Astoria-Megler Bridge when it lost control in high wind conditions. The truck and semi-trailer rolled onto their left side with the trailer coming to rest partially against the guardrail.

Oregon State Police (OSP), ODOT and local emergency personnel responded to the scene. WOODZELL was transported by an Astoria policer officer to Columbia Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.

Due to severe weather conditions and high winds, recovery of the truck and trailer will be delayed until later this afternoon. The bridge remains closed on both the Oregon and Washington sides.

 Alternate routes include the Westport to Puget Island Ferry and the Lewis and Clark bridge over the Columbia River between Longview Washington and Rainier Oregon.

Tillamook County reports 3 trees blocking the summit of Highway 131, also a tree down on Highway 101 at Alder Land, blocking the southbound lane.

The Wilson River Highway at milepost 25 has a tree blocking the westbound lane. Alderbrook Loop Road is closed by Possetti Road due to high water.

In Wahkiakum County, due to high water, North and South Satterlund Roads are now closed.  Loop Road east of the intersection with Barr Road is now closed. 

Gordon McCraw of Tillamook Emergency Management reports that half the roof of the Coast Guard Boathouse and the roof of another building at the Port of Garibaldi have blown off.