Portland man dies after fleeing crash, jumping from I-84 overpass
PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) – Oregon State Police say a 28-year-old man died when he fled from a minor traffic accident, jumped from an overpass and was struck by a vehicle on Interstate 84 in Boardman.
Lt. Mark Duncan said in a news release that troopers responded to the initial crash at 3 a.m. Thursday. A driver involved in the minor collision told them the other motorist had run toward an overpass.
Troopers found the 28-year-old Portland man dead on the shoulder of Interstate 84 – 130 feet east of the overpass. Police believe the man scaled the fence on the overpass and jumped. He was then struck by a vehicle that did not stop. The vehicle may have been dark metallic gray.
Anyone with information is asked to call Oregon State Police at 541-276-2121.
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OSP news release:
On Thursday November 9th, 2017 at approximately 3:06 a.m., troopers from the Oregon State Police Pendleton Area Command were dispatched to a reported crash/suspicious circumstance call on Interstate 84 eastbound near milepost 159 in Morrow County.
Preliminary investigation revealed a minor motor vehicle collision occurred on the exit 159 westbound off ramp between a gold Ford Ranger and white commercial motor vehicle. Upon the collision occurring, the operator of the Ford Ranger ran from the scene and the operator of the commercial motor vehicle called law enforcement. Arriving Troopers learned the operator of the Ford Ranger ran towards the Tower Road overpass.
During a search of the area, troopers located the operator of the Ford Ranger, a 28 year old male from Portland, deceased on the shoulder of Interstate 84 approximately 130 feet east from the overpass. Evidence at the scene indicates the deceased male scaled the fence on the Tower Road overpass and jumped. The male was then struck by an unknown motor vehicle which did not stop. Investigating troopers believe the deceased male may have been struck by a dark metallic gray vehicle.
Anyone with information regarding this incident who has not already spoken to investigators is asked to call the Oregon State Police Dispatch at 541-276-2121 and reference Incident # SP17409491. Trooper Mitch Pace from the Pendleton Area Command is the lead investigator.
The Oregon State Police were assisted at the scene by the Morrow County Sheriff’s Office, Boardman Fire, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
