WOMAN INJURED AFTER DRIVING DOWN EMBANKMENT AND INTO CREEK SOUTH OF VERNONIAN
Posted: March 9th, 2010 10:48 AM
(Note: Earlier information indicated this was north of Vernonia. OSP sergeant on scene advised it was south.)
A Vernonia-woman was injured Tuesday morning when she lost control of her car on snow and ice on Highway 47 south of Vernonia and traveled off a 40-foot embankment. The car came to rest upside in a creek but she was able to get out of the car and water before being taken to an unknown Portland-area hospital for treatment.
According to Oregon State Police (OSP) Sergeant Larry Lucas, on March 9, 2010 at approximately 5:40 a.m. a report was received of a single vehicle crash on Highway 47 near milepost 66 involving a vehicle upside down in a creek at the base of a 40-foot embankment.
The investigation indicated BECKY ABNEY, age 46, from Vernonia, was driving a 2000 Chevrolet Metro southbound at approximately 35 mph when she encountered snow and ice on the highway. ABNEY lost control of the car, traveled off the highway onto the southbound shoulder and then back across both lanes where she went down the embankment. The car flipped onto its top in about 4 feet of water.
ABNEY was able to get out of the car and onto land on the opposite of the creek where she was spotted by emergency responders. Lucas credited ABNEY's use of safety restraints in helping minimize her injuries so she was able to get out of the car.
Personnel from Vernonia Fire and Rescue reached ABNEY, brought her back across the creek and up the embankment. She was transported by ambulance to a Portland-area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
OSP is completing the investigation and no citations have been issued. Vernonia Fire and Rescue, Vernonia Police Department and Oregon Department of Transportation assisted at the scene. Highway 47 was restricted to one-lane of travel for almost 2 hours.
No photographs available for release.
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