Editor’s note: This report is based on information submitted by the Oregon State Police. Not all crashes with fatalities may be included. The status of incidents might change after further investigation.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 27
• 12:23 a.m. — Troopers responded to a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 84 near Arlington that took the life of Adhishwar Ramanathan, 24, of Umatilla. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that Ramanathan’s eastbound Toyota Avalon left the lane of travel for an unknown reason and struck the end of the guardrail before coming to rest facing west in the eastbound lane. Ramanathan was pronounced deceased at the scene.
MONDAY, SEPT. 28
• 8:47 a.m. — Troopers responded to a crash on Interstate 84 near North Powder in Union County that took the life of Kevin Wesley Russell, 46, of Leachville, Arkansas. OSP’s preliminary investigation indicated that a tow truck driven by a 50-year-old La Grande man was stopped on the westbound shoulder to hook up Russell’s disabled Peterbilt semitruck and trailer when a westbound Kenworth semitruck and trailer driven by a 52-year-old Baker City man left the roadway, collided with the disabled semitruck and struck Russell, who was standing outside his vehicle. Russell was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Kenworth’s driver was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries, and the tow truck driver was reportedly not injured. The highway was affected for about six hours during the on-scene investigation, and the crash remains under investigation.