10:36 AM PST on Friday, February 25, 2005

By TERESA BELL, kgw.com Staff

MYRTLE POINT, Ore. -- A commercial driver from Keizer was killed early Friday morning after losing control of his truck and crashing into a bridge railing on Highway 42 near Myrtle Point, police said.

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The crash happened at 1:30 a.m., about three miles east of Myrtle Point at the Powers Junction.

A Freightliner truck towing two trailers loaded with wood chips was traveling westbound on Highway 42 near milepost 23.5 when the trailers and cab rolled onto its side, according to Gregg Hastings with Oregon State Police.

He said the vehicle slid across the eastbound lane into the highway guardrail and the cab slammed into the bridge railing. The driver, Terence Dale Little, 54, of Keizer, died at the scene.

Investigators are looking at speed as a possible contributing factor.

Hastings said Little was not wearing a seat belt.

There were delays along Highway 42 during the investigation, but the roadway is clear now.