PHOTO COURTESY OF OSP
Two people were injured and their dog died Saturday night in a rollover crash along Interstate 84 near Meacham when the driver lost control after running over a dead bear lying in a traffic lane.
On October 11, 2014 at approximately 11:00 p.m., a passenger car driven by According to the Oregon State Police, Bret Cartwright, 25, from Boise, Idaho, was eastbound on Interstate 84 near milepost 235 around 11 p.m., when he changed from the right lane to left lane due to plastic vehicle parts on the road causing a hazard. Upon changing lanes, the car struck a dead black bear lying in the left lane.
Cartwright lost control of the vehicle as it rolled into the center median where it came to rest on its top.
He was transported by ambulance to St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton for treatment of non-life threatening injury. His 22-year old wife received minor injuriesy and their 1-year old daughter was properly restrained in a child safety seat and was not injured. Both were driven to the hospital by an OSP trooper.
The family’s dog was deceased at the scene.
OSP was assisted at the scene by local emergency responders.
The vehicle that had previously struck the bear was not at the scene. OSP and ODOT urge drivers involved in a collision with wildlife or other animals to stop and make an effort to check the extent of injury and any damage to your vehicle. If possible and safe to do so, try to get the animal and/or road debris out of the way of approaching traffic. Contact 9-1-1 or OSP dispatch to report the collision and request assistance, if needed.
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