KDRV News 12 – by Hannah Everman
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — A commercial truck driver and his dog are safe after his truck traveled off Highway 140 W, about six miles west of Klamath Falls, and went into the ice-covered Upper Klamath Lake Tuesday morning. Oregon State Police are still investigating the crash and the Oregon Department of Transportation is working on removing the truck from the water.
On December 31, at about 6:40 a.m., Carl Hansen, 73, from Medford, was driving the commercial truck that was pulling an empty semi-trailer on Highway 140 W near milepost 58 when the truck traveled across the westbound lane, off the shoulder and into the ice-covered lake. The truck and trailer broke through the ice and became partially submerged in the water.
Hansen was able to escape through the passenger window and crawled across the ice to shore safely. After emergency personnel arrived on scene, he was taken by ambulance to Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Hansen’s dog was spotted running on the ice not too far from the scene. His dog was rescued and brought back to the highway by Klamath County Fire District No. 1 personnel.
Hansen was driving for Hansen and Sons Trucking out of Medford.
“…..pulling an empty semi-trailer” is probably why he had no traction on what was probably an icy road.
And this story makes me grateful that I only slid into the ditch.