A head-on collision blocked Highway 228 Sunday afternoon and sent two drivers to the hospital.
Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District personnel responded at 3:13 p.m. to the two-vehicle collision near the Holley Market.
Names of the drivers were not available Sunday evening, but both
were injured; there were no other occupants.
One driver was transported by ambulance to Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis. After an extensive extrication, the other driver was transported by REACH helicopter to Sacred Heart at River Bend in Eugene, according to a SHFAD statement.
The highway was completely blocked by the incident and the road was closed for close to an hour.
An engine, a heavy rescue, two ambulances, and two brush rigs responded from SHFAD, which was assisted by the Oregon Department of Forestry and REACH air ambulance.
ODOT crews worked quickly to re-open the road.
During the incident a brush fire started approximately a mile west on Highway 228, caused by a down power line. Sweet Home Fire brush rigs responded from the scene of the crash along with the ODF units who were also on scene.
According to the SHFAD statement, when crews arrived they found 4- to 5-foot flames moving rapidly through tall grass. Due to the quick response, crews were able to bring the fire under control quickly, stopping it at approximately a quarter of an acre and protecting several nearby structures.
The New Era will report in more depth and publish more photos in our Aug. 31 edition.