Photos: Grisly Fiery Crash on Portland Freeway Blamed on Sleeping Driver

It is a mistake that many people only make once. Police remind everyone that fatigued driving can be every bit as fatal as intoxicated driving; it leads to far too many needless tragedies.

Photos by Q Madp, IraqWarHeroes.org

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Police say one person is confirmed deceased Wednesday night following a collision along westbound Interstate 84 in the Corbett area.

Investigators with the Oregon State Police on scene, say the crash took place after a driver fell asleep at the wheel.

The freeway's westbound lanes were still closed hours after the crash; eastbound lanes were re-opened by police at 10:45 p.m. Wednesday night.

Oregon State Police reports that this information will be followed with more details to be released later Thursday morning.

What police are saying at this point, is that around 10:00 p.m. Wednesday, 25 August 2010, a sport utility vehicle with one occupant was westbound on Interstate 84 near milepost 23.

Investigators say the vehicle traveled off the north side of the freeway into a viewpoint parking area.

That is where the sport utility vehicle crashed into a parked semi-trailer and caught fire, causing extensive damage to both the SUV and the semi truck trailer, which was subsequently extinguished.

Police say the truck's driver was asleep in his vehicle and wasn't injured.

OSP troopers from the Portland Area Command office will be investigating for several hours.

Assistance on the scene is being provided by Multnomah County Sheriff's Office and the Oregon Dept. of Transportation.

Westbound lanes were still closed late Wednesday night.

Traffic updates may be posted by ODOT at www.tripcheck.com.

Salem-News.com Photographer Q Madp who operates the Website IraqWarHeroes.org, was on the scene of this tragic fatal crash and was able to photograph the scene in a way that clearly shows the severity of the impact and damage to the vehicles.

Fatigued driving is just as dangerous as intoxicated driving, as a sleeping driver loses total control of the vehicle.

Information source: Oregon State Police news release

Q is a photographer and he has his work cut out for him as the self-appointed unofficial photographer of NW military funerals. He travels to services and he is constantly on the move. When he isn’t driving or shooting pictures, Q spends his time researching combat statistics and adding names to the vast list that he hopes will eventually include every American lost in the combat theaters and every other allied soldier as well. His Website is easy to remember, IraqWarHeroes.org is a place of memories for thousands of families who have lost a loved one.