News release from Newport PD. Officers responded to a motor vehicle crash near the center span of the Yaquina Bay Bridge Friday, Nov. 21, 2:40 p.m. Preliminary reports indicated a vehicle pulling a trailer overturned on the bridge, and hit an oncoming vehicle. The investigation revealed that Wade E. Williams, age 37 of Corvallis, was traveling south across the bridge in a full-size 2000 Chevy truck with a bed-mounted camper. As Williams reached the center span of the bridge, a large gust of wind shifted his truck to the left, causing the truck to tilt onto two wheels. The weight of the camper and wind gusts caused the camper anchor chains to break, and the camper flipped off of Mr. William’s truck. The camper collided with a north- bound vehicle driven by Catherine A. Hernandez, age 63 of Bandon, Oregon. A quick-thinking citizen anchored the non-secure camper to his dump truck, thus stabilizing the camper. Newport Fire Department personnel responded tended to the drivers of both vehicles. No injuries were reported. Williams’ truck suffered extensive damage, but was drivable from the scene. Ms. Hernandez’ vehicle was not drivable, and was towed from the scene. Bridge traffic was closed in both directions for 45 minutes while the crash was investigated and the vehicles removed. No citations were issued. Weather data indicated that wind gusts on the Yaquina Bay Bridge were approximately 67 MPH during the incident.
