On Friday February 9, 2018 at approximately 12:10 AM, Troopers from the Hermiston and Pendleton offices responded to a report of a commercial motor vehicle rollover crash on the I 82 onramp from I 84 westbound at milepost 180. The preliminary investigation revealed a 2004 Freightliner, towing an unloaded flatbed trailer, failed to negotiate the curve on the onramp to I 82, left the roadway on the west shoulder and rolled several times in the median. The operator, a 50 year old male from Spokane Washington was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel. Troopers from the Pendleton Area Command are conducting the investigation into the cause of the crash with the assistance of a collision reconstructionist. The roadway was partially closed for approximately 5 hours to allow for scene investigation and vehicle recovery. The Oregon State Police was assisted at the scene by the Oregon Department of Transportation and Umatilla County Fire District 1. The operator of the semi has been identified as 52 year old Ray Dean HARPER from Spokane Washington.
