January 25, 2024 3:10 a.m.

Covering coastal Douglas County:

Troopers from Oregon State Police responded to Highway 38 about two miles east of Reedsport on Monday, after a tractor truck pulling a flat-bed trailer carrying large boulders crashed into an earthen embankment.

An OSP report released Wednesday said the accident happened shortly before 9:50 a.m. The driver stated he unbuckled his seatbelt to reach to his right in order to access a Bluetooth speaker. When he did this, the tractor truck veered to the right and left the roadway, leading to the wreck.

The tractor and trailer jack-knifed as a result, blocking two of the three lanes of travel. The boulders in tow came off the trailer and landed in the ditch. Lower Umpqua EMS personnel responded to access the driver for injuries. The Salem man declined medical attention.

A tow company responded to recover the tractor, trailer, and boulders. Staff with the Oregon Department of Transportation and Reedsport Fire Department assisted with traffic control.