A Hermiston man required an emergency helicopter flight after suffering injuries Friday night, June 28, from a head-on car crash.
Oregon State Police reported that was the first of three crashes on state highways in Northeastern Oregon that required the services of Life Flight.
Trista Catherine Dexter, 40, was driving a Nissan Rogue southbound on Highway 207 near West Gettman Road when the SUV swerved into the northbound lane and crashed head on into a Hyundai Santa Fe.
Jose Pedro Jimenez Carmona, 64, of Hermiston, was driving the Hyundai. According to state court documents, emergency workers had to free Carmona from his vehicle. He suffered a compound fracture to his left leg and injuries to his arm.
Ambulances took both drivers to a Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston and a Life Flight aircraft later flew Carmona to another hospital.
Oregon State Police reported Dexter showed signs of impairment but refused to allow a blood draw. OSP obtained a warrant and then obtained the blood for analysis at its crime lab.
State police referred the case to the Umatilla County District Attorney’s Office for consideration of charges against Dexter of driving under the influence of intoxicants and third-degree assault,
Life Flight also flew victims in two crashes on June 30.
OSP reported the driver of a Honda Odyssey van at about 4:30 a.m. left Interstate 84 near milepost 230 and over corrected, crossed both lanes of travel and struck a dirt embankment, causing the van to roll.
A 62-year-old man from Arlington, Washington, was the passenger and sleeping in the back when the crash occurred. OSP reported he suffered facial injuries and a Life Flight helicopter flew him to Oregon Health & Sciences University, Portland.
And Jonathan David Farmer, 23, of Pendleton, just before midnight crashed a Kawasaki motorcycle eastbound on I-84 near milepost 220 when he failed to navigate a curve and struck the guardrail.
Farmer suffered serious injuries, according to OSP, and a Life Flight helicopter flew him to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, Washington.
