Freezing Fog — Klamath Basin, Oregon

2020-12-12 · Klamath Basin, Oregon

Direct deaths

Injuries

Event narrative

At around 9:10 AM PST on 12/12/20, a pickup truck on Highway 97 just north of the OR/CA border crossed the median and hit a southbound semi-truck. The driver of the pickup was killed, and his passenger and the semi-driver were seriously injured. As traffic backed up behind the scene, six more vehicles crashed and more than 10 left the roadway, including several semis. The highway was closed for more than four hours. Around the same time, Klamath Falls police were responding to another accident on Highway 97 just north of town, when another semi lost control and struck three police cars and a fire engine. The driver fled the scene and has not been apprehended as of the night of 12/12/20. Minutes after the first collision, another semi collided with the same fire truck, resulting in heavy damage. Oregon state police also reported numerous crashes on an icy Highway 39 near Merrill, OR (also just north of the CA/OR state line). Police reports stated nearly all involved were travelling too fast for icy road conditions. Road conditions at the time of the accident were reported to be icy due to overnight snow and ongoing freezing fog. The KLMT ASOS reported visibility of less than a quarter of a mile and freezing fog at the time of the accidents, with a temperature of 17 degrees. A cooperative observer at Keno, OR, around the same time as and near the scene of the fatal accident, reported 2.5 of snow in the previous 24 hours, with freezing fog and a temperature of 19 degrees at the time of observation.

Highway 97 was closed for over 4 hours. Three police cars and a fire truck, along with many civilian and commercial vehicles were heavily damaged. There were numerous injuries. A Freezing Fog Advisory issued for Klamath Falls and surrounding areas at 9:18 AM, effective until Noon PST.

Wider weather episode

At around 9:10 AM PST on 12/12/20, a pickup truck on Highway 97 just north of the OR/CA border crossed the median and hit a southbound semi-truck. The driver of the pickup was killed, and his passenger and the semi-driver were seriously injured. As traffic backed up behind the scene, six more vehicles crashed and more than 10 left the roadway, including several semis. The highway was closed for more than four hours. Around the same time, Klamath Falls police were responding to another accident on Highway 97 just north of town, when another semi lost control and struck three police cars and a fire engine. The driver fled the scene and has not been apprehended as of the night of 12/12/20. Minutes after the first collision, another semi collided with the same fire truck, resulting in heavy damage. Oregon state police also reported numerous crashes on an icy Highway 39 near Merrill, OR (also just north of the CA/OR state line). Police reports stated nearly all involved were travelling too fast for icy road conditions. Road conditions at the time of the accident were reported to be icy due to overnight snow and ongoing freezing fog. The KLMT ASOS reported visibility of less than a quarter of a mile and freezing fog at the time of the accidents, with a temperature of 17 degrees. A Co-Op observer at Keno, OR, around the same time as and near the scene of the fatal accident, reported 2.5 of snow in the previous 24 hours, with freezing fog and a temperature of 19 degrees at the time of observation.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 925612. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.