CRIME
Stolen Car Found Upside Down In Flames On Road Closed Due To Landslide
Tillamook County Sheriff's Office
Authorities in Oregon are investigating after a stolen car was found upside down and in flames in a collapsed section of road that was washed out in December.
The Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office said Deputy Ben Berger, Oregon State Trooper Jon King, Nestucca Fire and Tillamook Ambulance responded Sunday morning to a report of a car on fire on the closed stretch of Sandlake Road, which had been closed after a landslide in December.
Upon arrival, responders found no one at the crash site. Photos shared by the sheriff’s office show a charred car upside down on the collapsed asphalt.
“The road has been closed for sometime, but they removed the barrier and road closed signs and drove directly into the hole,” Berger said in a statement. “This has been an ongoing problem, with people removing the barriers and driving on the closed portion of the road. Obviously it is extremely dangerous.”
Tillamook County Public Works posted a message on Facebook repeating a warning about the road closure, and urging the public not to enter the area.
Do Not move the concrete barriers, cut the chains, etc. Contractor is scheduled to be on site the week of January 29th, 2024 to stabilize the uphill lane, the agency wrote. The road is expected to reopen by the end of March, the agency said.
About an hour after the crash was reported, the owner of the vehicle called 911 to report it had been stolen sometime in the early morning hours. The owner’s residence was about five miles from the crash site.
Authorities are now investigating both the crash and the car theft. The sherif’s office is asking anyone with information to come forward or submit an anonymous tip.
TMX contributed to this article.
