PHOTO COURTESY OF OSP
Two Umatilla County residents were injured Sunday morning in a two-vehicle head-on crash in a highway work zone on Interstate 84 west of La Grande. One of the involved drivers was cited after she drove past barricade signs posted to prevent drivers from traveling the wrong way into a traffic lane.
According to the Oregon State Police, Merrill Hilde, 64, of Pendleton, was leaving La Grande just after 11:30 a.m. in a four-door Subaru station wagon when the accident occurred. Hilde was traveling westbound on I-84 and, according to the OSP, drove past several signs indicating that freeway access was closed, as well as a barricade sign. Hilde entered the one eastbound land the wrong way and drove about a half mile before colliding head on into a 1976 Chevrolet sport utility vehicle driven by Norris Logsdon, 74, of Hermiston.
Both drivers were transported by ambulance to Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande with non-life threatening injuries.
The area where the crash occurred is a single lane for both east and west traffic on a bridge with a concrete divider. Construction work in the area between milepost 261 and 252 has the westbound lanes closed, with westbound traffic diverted into one eastbound lane for highway work between milepost 261 and 252.
The eastbound lane of I-84 was closed for one hour before both vehicles could be moved.
OSP was assisted at the scene by Union County Sheriff’s Office, fire personnel and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Hilde was cited by OSP for failure to obey a traffic control device.
OSP and ODOT urge all drivers to obey traffic control signs and be alert at all times. When traveling in work zones remember that temporary changes to the roadway may be made to perform necessary road work and provide a safer work environment.
More Stories from Northeast Oregon Now:
Stanfield Woman Dies in Auto Accident
Truck Driver Identified in Fatal Crash
