A Salem-area man survived after his SUV crashed through a guardrail and traveled nearly the length of a football field down an embankment, Oregon State Police said. .
According to Oregon State Police Sgt. Derek Bischoff, at approximately 9:44 p.m. Thursday, May 6, a 2002 GMC Yukon sport utility vehicle driven by Peter A. Chamberlain, 50, of Salem, was eastbound on Highway 20 near milepost 79 when Chamberlain lost control and struck the guardrail. The SUV crashed through the railing and went down the embankment approximately 300 feet before coming to a stop.
Bischoff arrived at the scene three minutes later and made his way down the embankment to Chamberlain while fire and medical personnel responded. Chamberlain had non-life-threatening injuries and was later extricated from his vehicle by Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue and fire department personnel.
Chamberlain was transported by ambulance to St. Charles Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries, police said. Safety restraint use is pending confirmation, police said.