Portland man killed in pileup involving nearly 65 vehicles on I-5 in Linn County

LINN COUNTY, Ore. (KPTV) - A stretch of southbound Interstate 5 was closed for several hours Wednesday after a deadly crash involving dozens of vehicles occurred in Linn County.

The Oregon Department of Transportation said the southbound lanes of I-5 were closed at milepost 216, the OR-228 Halsey-Brownsville exit, due to multiple crashes.

Shortly before 4 p.m., a jackknifed semitruck closed southbound I-5 south of U.S. Highway 20. As of 4:30 p.m., one southbound lane was reopened between U.S. 20 and the Corvallis exit.

“Delay travel southbound and take extreme caution on alternate routes. They are very busy,” ODOT said in an update. “Be patient, slow down, take alternate routes, and watch for emergency responders.”

UPDATE: One lane of SB I-5 is open south of #Albany, beginning at MP 231. Traffic detoured from SB I-5 to OR 99E at OR 34, the #Corvallis exit, MP 228.

SB I-5 remains closed between OR 34 and MP 211 from multiple crashes. Delay travel SB or use extreme caution on alt routes.
— OregonDOT (@OregonDOT) October 19, 2022

Updated information as Interstate 5 northbound continues to be slow moving. https://t.co/ZyzSNWjpmx https://t.co/J4LAijD69Y pic.twitter.com/TZZHvkZ05o
— Oregon State Police (@ORStatePolice) October 19, 2022

SB I-5 is closed at MP 216, the OR 228 Halsey-Brownsville Exit due to multiple crashes in an area with heavy fog. Traffic is being detoured to OR 99E. Expect an extended closure.

Drive with caution, use alt routes and watch out for emergency responders. https://t.co/HCzFm0ansC pic.twitter.com/KiIzGlgXyp
— OregonDOT (@OregonDOT) October 19, 2022

Oregon State Police said preliminary investigation estimates 15 to 20 commercial motor vehicles and 45 passenger vehicles were involved in the pileup.

One person, identified Friday as 29-year-old Phillip Frye, of Portland, was killed in the pileup. OSP said four others were injured, one in serious condition.

According to OSP, the preliminary cause of the crashes is heavy fog in the area.

School buses from Eugene arrived to the scene to help relocate 30 to 40 stranded motorists. DEQ and HazMat has responded to cleanup any leaking fluids on the interstate.

ODOT said the closure will last for most of the day. Traffic was being detoured at the Highway 228 exit to Highway 99E. Drivers were being asked to avoid the area and take alternate routes.