Saturday’s hail storm may have played a role in the death of a Pendleton man in a single-vehicle accident Saturday evening on Highway 97.
According to the Oregon State Police, the driver of a 2012 Kia Ultima, Tiarra Burnette, 40, of Pendleton, lost control of the vehicle as hail came down. The vehicle fishtailed, struck an embankment and rolled. The vehicle came to rest on the driver side. A passenger in the rear seat, Shawn Campbell, 39, of Pendleton, died at the scene. The right front passenger, Joseph R. Perilli, 28, of Pendleton, and Burnette were not injured.
All occupants were wearing seatbelts, according to the OSP. The accident occurred around milepost 50.
