A Union Pacific Railroad train struck a pickup truck stranded on the tracks just east of Hermiston early this morning. No one was injured, according to the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office.
At about 4 a.m., Thursday morning, the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office responded to a car versus train crash at the railroad crossing located on E. Highland and Loop Road just east of Hermiston. Juan Martinez, 27, from Hermiston, experienced a flat rear tire on his 2001 Chevrolet S10 pickup while traveling east on E. Highland near the railroad crossing. He attempted to turn around by backing up over the tracks and went off the roadway. The flat tire became stuck on the track and he could not free the vehicle.
A southbound UPRR train was approaching the crossing and Martinez and his passenger, Jessica Kestler, 24, also of Hermiston, ran from the vehicle leaving it on the tracks. The train struck Martinez’s vehicle and pushed it approximately 120 yards before coming to a stop.
Martinez was cited for careless driving and dangerous movement of a standing or stopped vehicle.
