ROAD CLOSED: As of midnight, Gales Creek Road remains closed. Photo: Chas Hundley
(Gales Creek Road reopened sometime this morning)
WATTS – An evening mishap involving a dump truck and power and communication poles has taken Gales Creek Road out of commission for the time being between Stringtown Road and Creekwood Place, according to Forest Grove Fire & Rescue.
Just after 6:30 p.m., crews were dispatched to the scene, near a well-known dairy, where, according to a social media post from Forest Grove Fire & Rescue, the cause of the downed wires — which caused a brief power flicker for many locals — was established.
“This appears to be the dump bed that was lifted and took out the wires, not a crash,” the fire and rescue agency said.
Portland General Electric was quickly on the scene and able to remove the wires and vehicle, but the road remains closed due to the downed pole as of 11:55 p.m., where journalist Chas Hundley is writing this article, about to head back to his home over David Hill, the best bet for many Gales creek residents needing to get to or from Forest Grove.
A PGE technician on scene stated that he was still waiting for a crew and that there was no estimate on timing of when the road would reopen.
A road closed sign was posted as one leaves Forest Grove westbound on Gales Creek Road, but a spot wide enough for those fortunate to live on the east side of the closure to drive past exists.
Chas Hundley is the editor of the Gales Creek Journal and sister news publications the Banks Post and the Salmonberry Magazine. He grew up in Gales Creek and has a cat.
