Powell Blvd. vehicle smashup sends two to hospital

Find out why a motorist was thwarted getting dinner, after concluding that he deserved a break today … while another motorist had to be cut out of his car …

The Kia Rio doesn’t look all that damaged, considered the Dodge van rolled, after the two vehicles collided.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Sunday evening traffic on SE Powell Boulevard came to a standstill on August 8, when a Dodge Caliber and a Kia Rio tangled at SE 90^th Avenue – just across from the historic McDonald’s Restaurant.

The collision didn’t seem to damage the Kia to any great extent, but the Dodge Caliber rolled onto its side, pinning at least one occupant inside.

Many people came to watch as rescue workers struggled to open the van and extract the patients.

Using their Holmatro life-saving power saw and cutter, firefighters from Portland Fire & Rescue’s Truck 25 removed the roof to gain access to the patient.

“It looked like the car was trying to turn into the McDonald’s,” Bill Overmeyer told us, who said he was waiting for a bus when the wreck occurred. “I looked down the street for the bus, heard the crash, and then the van was over on its side.”

Police shut down traffic at SE 82^nd and 92^nd Avenues, and rerouted traffic that came on to SE Powell Blvd. from side streets, as they used their Holmatro Rescue Tools to cut away part of the van’s roof, and clear away obstacles that prevented them from removing the patient.

Rescue crews ease the patient on to a gurney after being extricated from the van.

“There is little information in the call other than that two cars involved and one rolled over,” reported Portland Police Bureau spokesman Sergeant Pete Simpson. “Appears as though at least two people went to the hospital by ambulance. [At this point, it is] unknown what factors caused the accident.”

It’s no longer the “Jaws of Life”. This crew member of Portland Fire & Rescue’s Truck 25 starts to put away the new Holmatro Rescue Tools – implements they say are lighter, faster,and more powerful than the old portable power rescue equipment they used to use.

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