On May 7, 2017 at approximately 9:45 PM, Oregon State troopers received a call regarding a wrong way driver on I-84 near mile marker 294. While troopers were on the phone with the complainant, the suspect vehicle (a black Ford Focus) crashed (side swiped) into an eastbound commercial motor vehicle. The driver of the Ford Focus was pronounced deceased at the scene. Preliminary information indicated the driver of the Ford Focus was identified as Joseph Sizemore (age 32 from Pendleton). Sizemore had just left the Baker Valley rest area and traveled westbound into the eastbound lanes. The Ford Focus crashed into a 2016 Freightliner commercial vehicle (CMV) tractor/trailer. The 2016 CMV was being driven by Jonathan M Lawrence (age 26 from Hammond, Indiana). After the initial crash, the 2016 CMV’s trailer crashed into another CMV (a 2013 Freightliner) being driven by Isaac J. Pitts (age 34 from Hahira, Georgia). Neither of the CMV drivers were injured but, due to the damage, both CMVs had to be towed from the scene. The cause of the crash is being investigated as possible impairment of Sizemore.
