Two men were injured in a three-vehicle crash among parade participants Saturday morning.
Sweet Home medics transported Dan Johnson, 63, of Sweet Home and Kevin Keeney, 55, of Sweet Home with non-life-threatening injuries following the crash, said Police Chief Jeff Lynn.
Police received a report of the crash at 11:50 a.m., Lynn said. The crash occurred just east of 18th Avenue in what is called the “safety corridor” during the annual Sportsman’s Holiday Parade. The area is blocked off between 22nd and 18th avenues, and parade traffic is eastbound at that point.
A blue 1946 Ford pickup driven by Daniel Porter, 31, led the group of three vehicles, Lynn said. Second in line was a white 2015 Can Am side-by-side ATV driven by Keeney. Those two vehicles were in the safety corridor.
They were followed by an orange 2014 “assembled roadster” driven by Johnson, Lynn said. His vehicle was just entering the safety corridor when it struck the back of the vehicle driven by Keeney, causing Keeney’s vehicle to strike the pickup driven by Porter.
Officers are investigating the cause of the crash and are seeking further information from witnesses to the crash, Lynn said. He declined to discuss the details of the crash because it remains under investigation. He hopes the investigation will be complete by Wednesday or Thursday.
Bystanders said Johnson’s vehicle’s front wheels were in the air as it crossed the intersection and a pair of tire skid marks were visible immediately after the collision, running across the intersection to where the roadster rested on the pavement.
Anyone who witnessed the crash should contact the Sweet Home Police Department at (541) 367-5181.
No citations have been issued so far.
Johnson had one passenger, Vicky Hipp, 57, of Sweet Home. Porter had two passengers, Renee Anderson, 32, and an infant child. Keeney had no passengers.