A truck hauling dirt down a steep portion of Southwest Upper Hall Street Wednesday morning left the road and tumbled down an embankment, coming to rest in a swimming pool and prompting a dramatic rescue of the driver, an official said.

Portland Fire & Rescue Bureau rescuers scrambled down a hillside after the crash, reported at 8:49 a.m., to reach the driver's cab which was partially submerged in pool water, said bureau spokeswoman Capt. Louisa Jones.

While at least one rescuer held the driver's head up from the water, others used the "jaws of life" to pry the damaged steering column from the center console which had pinned the driver inside the vehicle, Jones said. At least eight people participated in the rescue, she said.

The driver, who was not identified, was taken to Oregon Health and Science University Medical Center with serious injuries, she said.

The crash location is the home of Portland Trail Blazers forward Evan Turner.

"I wasn't aware that the driver was injured or how badly," Turner said Wednesday afternoon through a team spokesman. "But I'm obviously grateful that the first responders were able to rescue him and I hope and pray he'll be fine."

Jones said the truck was coming down a hairpin turn in the twisty West Hills when "it lost control somehow... and went over an embankment."

Dirt from the yard debris vehicle – which Jones estimated had an open cargo area of 5 feet by 10 feet by 15 feet – spread all over the yard and pool area where the truck came to rest. A heavy duty tow truck was removing the truck from the pool by 11 a.m., she said.

-- Allan Brettman