Critical Injury Accident NE Oregon, June 14

On June 12, 2017 at about 10:31 a.m., Troopers from the Oregon State Police Hermiston and Pendleton Offices responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash on Highway 207 (Interstate 84 overpass). Preliminary investigation revealed a silver Pontiac, operated by Markus SMITH, age 20, and passenger, 13 year old male, both of Boardman, was stopped at the stop sign, at top of the exit ramp, at exit 182 from Interstate 84 eastbound. The Pontiac pulled onto Highway 207 into the path of a commercial motor vehicle, operated by Kevin HELZER, age 56, of Hermiston, traveling northbound. The Pontiac sideswiped the commercial motor vehicle traveling north and spun striking another commercial motor vehicle, operated by Glen SHARP, age 53, of Umatilla, which was stopped on Highway 207, facing south and waiting to turn east onto Interstate 84. SMITH was seriously injured in the crash and transported by ground ambulance to Good Shepherd Hospital in Hermiston. The 13 year old male passenger suffered critical injuries and was transported by Life Flight to Kadlec Medical Center in Washington and later transported to a Spokane area hospital. HELZER and SHARP were not injured in the collision.