One lane east of Warm Springs blocked into afternoon

From KTVZ.COM news sources

The driver of a semi truck hauling grocery items fell asleep at the wheel on Highway 26 east of Warm Springs early Saturday, sending the rig over the guardrail and about 70 feet down an embankment, Oregon State Police said.

Driver Ruby Scroggins, 28, of Sherwood, Ore., escaped serious injury, refused medical treatment and was cited for failure to maintain a lane in the crash, which occurred shortly before 4 a.m. and shut the eastbound slow lane of the highway well into the afternoon, said OSP Senior Trooper Jed Rzegocki.

About 30 to 50 gallons of diesel fuel leaked from the truck but was contained, despite the crash not being reported until 5:12 a.m., Rzegocki said.

Scroggins was driving a 2008 Volvo commercial truck pulling a trailer loaded with grocery items heading east on Highway 26, about four miles east of Warm Springs, the trooper said.

When the truck and trailer was near Northwest Pelton Road, Scroggins fell asleep and veered into the guardrail. The rig went over the guardrail and down the embankment, with the tractor coming to rest about 70 feet from the road, Rzegocki said.

Traffic was controlled by flaggers, and the highway was still partially blocked Saturday afternoon during efforts to remove the truck.

OSP troopers from the Madras work site investigated the crash, assisted at the scene by Jefferson County sheriff's deputies and crews from ODOT and SMAF Environmental.