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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 22, 2005 Multiple-vehicle accidents in the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 south of Ashland slowed traffic for hours Wednesday afternoon. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Crashes bring only minor injuries By CHRIS CONRAD Mail Tribune A semi-trailer stuffed with 68,000 pounds of yogurt was among four vehicles involved in a crash Wednesday on Interstate 5 just south of Ashland. The chaos was sparked at around 3:25 p.m. when a Chevrolet Suburban rear-ended a semi-trailer near milepost 11. The semi- trailer’s driver, Lazaro Carrera, 38, of Texas, lost control of the rig. When he tried to correct, the load of yogurt packed in the trailer shifted, sending it crashing down on the driver’s side. The end of the trailer came to rest on top of the concrete barrier running alongside the fast lane, Oregon State Police Lt. Brian Powers said. After striking the semi-trailer, the Suburban careened into the opposite lane. It’s driver, Ann Bailey, 46, of Ashland, lost control of the SUV and also crashed into the concrete barrier just ahead of the overturned semi-trailer. Carrera was taken to Ashland Community Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries and released. Bailey was not injured, OSP officials said. Advertisement Meanwhile, less than a mile south of the crash, the driver of another semi-trailer heard over his radio that a wreck had just occurred ahead of him. He slowed his rig and was rear-ended by another semi-trailer. "His brakes were hot coming out of the (Siskiyou Pass), and he couldn’t stop," Powers said. The crash nearly destroyed the semi’s cab, covering a swath of freeway in metal and broken glass. Despite the damage, both drivers escaped without injury, Powers said. "When it hit the rear of that trailer, it opened it up like a can opener," Powers said. All four vehicles came to rest within sight of each other. The entire area reeked of cauterized brakes. Oregon Department of Transportation crews arrived shortly after the crashes. Traffic was restricted to one lane in both directions. ODOT was able to keep traffic running smoothly through the area during the clean up, ODOT district manager John Vial said. ODOT crews were then faced with a problem in the form of 68,000 pounds of yogurt that had to be unloaded from the trailer before it could be tipped back onto its wheels for removal. Vial gloomily predicted that crews would be out well into the night clearing the road. "It’s going to be a mess," he said. Reach reporting intern Chris Conrad at 776-4471, or e-mail Crashes bring only minor injuries ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Investments & Loans Advertisement s