Umatilla Co. Rollover, Sept. 4

On September 3rd, 2015 at approximately 2:28pm members of the Oregon State Police Pendleton Area Command responded to the report of an injury rollover crash on Interstate 84 eastbound near exit 209 (in Pendleton). Preliminary investigation revealed a 1995 Ford Explorer was traveling eastbound when the vehicle had a tire blow out which contributed to the vehicle leaving the roadway. The vehicle entered the center median where it struck a dirt embankment and rolled an unknown number of times. Witness statements indicate at least two male adult passengers were ejected from the vehicle of which one came to rest in the westbound lanes of I-84. Passenger and witness statements also revealed the vehicle was occupied by seven people at the time of the crash. A total of four patients were transported to area hospitals by ground and air ambulance for treatment of injuries suffered during the crash and three of the occupants are believed to have fled the area on foot. The male adult driver was transferred by air ambulance from St. Anthony’s Hospital to Kadlec Medical Center in Richland, WA, for treatment of critical injuries. One of the ejected male adult passengers was transferred by air ambulance from St. Anthony’s Hospital to Oregon Health Sciences University for treatment of critical injuries. One of the female adult passengers who left the crash scene was contacted at St. Anthony’s Hospital where she was receiving treatment and was subsequently arrested on an outstanding warrant after she was treated and released.