A Hermiston man died Saturday morning after his vehicle left Interstate 84 and crashed upside down into the Columbia River in Multnomah County.
The Oregon State Police responded to the scene around 7:15 a.m. near milepost 23. The preliminary investigation indicated a red Mercury Cougar, operated by Gorgonio Reyes Barrera, 31, of Hermiston, was westbound on the interstate when it left the lane of travel at high rate of speed. The Mercury went through a guard rail and down a 150-foot embankment where it landed upside down in the Columbia River. First responders removed the operator from the vehicle and attempted life saving measures but were unsuccessful. Barrera was declared dead at the scene.
The interstate was not impacted, but a viewpoint where the crash occurred was closed for approximately five hours while troopers investigated the scene.
OSP was assisted by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, the Multnomah County Medical Examiner, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
