6 trapped in burning van in Wash. crash

By Sami Edge
oregonlive.com

PORTLAND, Ore. — A crash on North Columbia Boulevard left six people trapped inside a burning van under Interstate 5 on Sunday evening, Portland Fire & Rescue said in a news release.

Callers told emergency dispatchers that the van was “completely engulfed in flames,” around 8 p.m, the news release said. Portland police closed the road to traffic.

| MORE: Consensus is killing your momentum

“The heavy smoke column rising into the sky made it evident to the arriving crews that there was a very significant fire,” the Fire Bureau said. “If accurate and occupants were trapped, lives were in jeopardy.”

Portland firefighters on scene decided to extinguish the flames before they tried to get passengers out of the car, the agency said. A local community member helped pull the passengers from the vehicle, Portland firefighters said in the news release.

Nobody inside the van was burned, but they were all “significantly injured” in the crash that had caused the fire, the Fire Bureau said. Portland police said ambulances took five of the van’s passengers to hospitals with injuries that were not life-threatening.

Portland police asked Sunday for anyone with information about the crash to reach out to them at crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 26-97731.

Trending

Photo of the Week

Photo of the Week: New Texas EMS launches

San Marcos EMS, the new department staffed largely by familiar paramedics and EMTs, joins San Marcos police and fire as the city’s third emergency service

October 30, 2026 08:53 AM

 · 

EMS1 Staff

Billing and Administration

N.C. county’s $60 EMS subscription covers ambulance costs for a year

Wake County’s program eliminates out-of-pocket costs for emergency ambulance transport within the county for enrolled households, requires existing health insurance to join, and generates about $1.1 million annually for the county’s $92 million EMS budget

October 30, 2026 08:06 AM

911 and Dispatch

Calif. county launches 911 nurse triage program

Merced County’s new 911 Nurse Navigation program aims to free up ambulances for critical emergencies by directing non-life-threatening callers to urgent care, telehealth or home care options instead

October 30, 2026 08:18 AM

Search and Rescue

Coast Guard rescue swimmer recounts saving 16 from sinking boat off Mexico

Josh Law spent two hours alone in rough Pacific waters off Baja California, personally pulling 16 survivors to safety using the “buddy tow” technique, while 11 others were never found despite an 89-hour search

October 31, 2026 08:00 AM

©2026 Advance Local Media LLC.
Visit oregonlive.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.