A Heppner man was killed Friday morning when a commercial truck collided into his vehicle nearly head-on, according to the Oregon State Police.
The OSP responded to a report of a two-vehicle crash on Highway 207 about nine miles south of Hermiston around 7:43 a.m.
According to the OSP, a 1996 Subaru Legacy wagon operated by Mervin Grubaugh, 63, of Heppner, was travelling northbound on Highway 207 at highway speeds and approaching the intersection of Echo Highway when a 1996 Mack commercial-sized farm truck, operated by Maria Bautista Lucas, 60, of Yakima, Wash., was traveling south on Highway 207, and turned left toward Echo Highway in the travel lane of the Subaru, crashing nearly head-on.
Grubaugh suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Lucas was transported by Hermiston Ambulance to the Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston where she was treated and released.
The highway was closed for about five hours while investigators completed a reconstruction of the crash scene. ODOT established detours in the area during the closure.
OSP was assisted by Hermiston Fire and Ambulance, Echo Fire and Oregon Department of Transportation.
