Editor’s note: This report is based on information submitted by the Oregon State Police. All crashes with fatalities may not be included. The status of incidents might change after further investigation.
THURSDAY, JULY 16
• 8:27 a.m. — Troopers responded to a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 84 eastbound near Pendleton that resulted in the deaths of two occupants. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that a gray Dodge Durango driven by Cullen Michael Derr, 38, of Battle Ground, Washington, was traveling eastbound while towing a custom-built utility trailer when, for unknown reasons, it left the roadway. The vehicle rolled multiple times and caught fire. Three occupants were ejected from the vehicle during the crash, including a 24-year-old woman, a 15-year-old boy and a 9-month-old boy. All four occupants, including Derr, were transported to a local hospital. Due to the severity of their injuries, the three passengers were transferred to hospitals in Oregon and Washington for advanced medical care. On July 19, OSP was notified that the 24-year-old woman, Abigail Renee Pangelinann Mendiola of Vancouver, Washington, and the 15-year-old boy died from injuries sustained in the crash. Derr was arrested for driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving, three counts of reckless endangering another person and three counts of assault in the third degree. He was lodged at the Umatilla County Jail.
SATURDAY, JULY 18
• 9:44 a.m. — Troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 20 about 8 miles east of Vale in Malheur County that took the life of John Platt, 67, of Winters, California. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that a semitruck towing a trailer driven by a 24-year-old Marsing, Idaho, man was traveling westbound and attempting to turn left onto Siphon Drive when a black Harley Davidson motorcycle attempted to pass. The motorcycle struck the driver’s side of the semitruck. Platt was declared deceased at the scene. A passenger on the Harley Davidson, a 70-year-old woman, was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. The truck driver was not injured.
• 7:05 p.m. — Troopers responded to a single-vehicle motorcycle crash on Highway 140 south of Brownsboro in Jackson County that took the life of Brian Jay Moore, 54, of Eagle Point. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that Moore was riding a black Yamaha motorcycle westbound when the motorcycle left the roadway for an unknown reason and struck the guardrail. Moore was declared deceased at the scene. OSP said that witnesses reported the motorcycle was being ridden at high speeds immediately prior to the crash.
SUNDAY, JULY 19
• 3:54 a.m. — Troopers responded to a vehicle-bicycle crash on Interstate 5 northbound in Salem. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that a white Subaru Outback was traveling north on I-5 when it struck a bicyclist. The bicyclist was seriously injured and transported to an area hospital. The driver of the Subaru remained on scene and cooperated with the investigation. Investigators believe the bicycle may have been thrown into a travel lane after the initial collision and could have been struck by another vehicle. Anyone who believes they may have struck the bicycle, witnessed the bicycle in the roadway, or observed the bicyclist in the area prior to the crash is urged to contact OSP. Anyone with information is asked to contact OSP’s Northern Command Center dispatch at 800-442-0776 or *OSP (*677) from a mobile phone (reference case number SP26-236336).