WL man cited for reckless driving after causing pileup

By Kara Hansen

The West Linn Tidings, Nov 19, 2009

SUBMITTED PHOTO / CLACKAMAS COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT NO. 1

Crews examine some of the wreckage left after a two-vehicle accident shoved a concrete median into traffic headed the opposite direction, triggering three more cars to collide on I-205 Friday morning.

A West Linn man was cited for careless driving after his truck sideswiped another vehicle, pushing it into a concrete median and resulting in a vehicle pileup on Interstate 205.

The accident happened at about 8:40 a.m. Friday, state police said. In all, five vehicles were involved.

According to Oregon State Police Trooper Colin Tracy’s report, Robert Berreth, 55, was driving his truck northbound in the right lane of I-205 just north of Oregon City. When he attempted to merge into the left lane, his truck sideswiped a sedan driven by Jacqueline Wischmeyer, 67, also of West Linn.

The collision forced Wischmeyer’s car into the center median and drove the concrete barrier into the freeway’s southbound lanes, causing three more vehicles to collide.

Multiple emergency response agencies helped at the scene, including Clackamas Fire District No. 1. Firefighters armed with hydraulic tools freed one driver from the wreckage.

Two people were taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

The Oregon Department of Transportation handled cleanup and replacement of the concrete barrier.

Berreth was cited for careless driving in connection with the incident, authorities said.

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