ODOT Worker Killed Near Echo

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ODOT Death
An Oregon Department of Transportation employee was killed at a chip seal paving operation near Echo on Tuesday.
PHOTO COURTESY OF OSP

Oregon State Police (OSP) is investigating the death of an Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) employee at a work site Tuesday afternoon near Echo.

Donald Kendall of Ukiah was killed just after 1 p.m., during an accident on a chip seal paving operation on Highway 320 near milepost 35, which is south of Interstate 84 near Echo, spokesman Dave Thompson said.

Thompson said it is not yet known what happened. He said Kendall was a transportation maintenance specialist.

He worked for ODOT for more than 29 years, Thompson said. Thompson said he operated snow plows and was known to help stranded drivers.

“The ODOT family lost one of our own today,” said ODOT Deputy Director Paul Mather. “We all feel his loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and his fellow workers.”

Highway 320 was closed at the scene for the duration of the investigation.