One person was injured and a driver cited for careless driving after losing control of the armored truck he was driving and crashing down an embankment Thursday morning on Highway 101 about two miles south of Depoe Bay, Oregon State Police (OSP) reported.
Troopers said that Jose Lorenzana, 24, of Salem, was driving an Oregon Armored Service truck south on Highway 101 near milepost 130 about 8:30 a.m., November 15, when the crash occurred.
Driver cited, passenger injured in armored truck crash near Depoe Bay on Nov. 15 - OSP photo
Lorenzana lost control as he rounded a curve, drove across the oncoming lane and crashed about 50-feet down a steep embankment, the news release stated.
45-year old Scott Lester of Salem was an unrestrained passenger riding in the back of the vehicle. Lester, also an employee of the armored transport service, was taken by Pacific West ambulance to Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport for treatment of minor injuries.
The driver, reportedly wearing safety restraints, was not injured, troopers said.
While the investigation is continuing by OSP troopers assigned to the Newport Area Command Office, excessive speed on wet pavement appear to have contributed to the crash, the release said.
Lorenzana was cited for careless driving.
One lane of traffic was closed for about three hours, and troopers remained on scene until the vehicle was removed. OSP was assisted by personnel with Depoe Bay Fire Department, Lincoln County Road Department, and Oregon Department of Transportation.