A Klamath Falls man and his six-year-old daughter were injured Wednesday night on Highway 97 when a commercial truck lost control on an icy bridge, crossed the centerline, and slammed into their pickup. Moments later, the pickup was hit by a second commercial truck when it was unable to stop, and the father and daughter were trapped inside the smashed vehicle for over two hours before firefighters could remove them, troopers reported.
Scott Michael Nieman, 35, was seriously injured and transported to Sky Lakes Medical Center (SLMC), Oregon State Police (OSP) said. His daughter, seated in the right-rear passenger seat, received reportedly minor injuries and was also taken to SLMC.
(above) A 35-year old Klamath Falls man was seriously injured and his six-year-old daughter received minor injuries when their pickup was struck by two commericial trucks that lost control on icy Highway 97. (below) Firefighters worked for over two hours to extricate the injured father and daughter, who were trapped inside the wreckage of their vehicle. - OSP photos
During the nearly 2 ½ hours that firefighters worked to extricate the Neimans from the wreckage of their 2005 Dodge Ram pickup, a surgeon was called to the scene to access the father’s condition.
Troopers said that Juan Rojas Linares, the 33-year old El Cajon, California driver who lost control of his southbound commercial truck near milepost 275 about 7:25 p.m. on January 30, was uninjured.
The second commercial truck that struck Neiman’s pickup was driven by Robert J. Wanker, 69, of Redmond. He, too, was uninjured, OSP said.
The highway was closed for about five hours, and Klamath Falls Police and Oregon Department of Transportation assisted at the scene. OSP is continuing an investigation.