A tragedy unfolded on an Oregon interstate Sunday morning when a commercial motor vehicle collided with two pedestrians, both of whom did not survive the ordeal. The accident occurred near milepost 210 on Interstate 84 in Umatilla County. According to a report released by Oregon State Police, the Volvo truck, hauling a trailer and maneuvering westward, for reasons yet unknown, veered off the slow lane, hitting a guardrail and the pedestrians, before tumbling down an embankment and finally coming to rest on its side.

Names of the victims were released by the authorities, revealing the individuals as John Charles Harrington (25) and Marcus Anthony Paul (24), hailing from Pendleton. Found at the scene, their lives were claimed by the catastrophic incident, marking a somber turn on an otherwise typical Sunday morning. Having sustained minor injuries, Phill Culp (59) of Vancouver (WA), the driver of the Volvo, was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, as detailed by the Oregon State Police.

As investigators worked to piece together the aftermath, the interstate bore the marks of disruption, with traffic flow interrupted for approximately five hours. Responding to the crash, the Oregon State Police were not alone in addressing the tragedy. Assistance was rendered by various entities including Pendleton Fire, Pendleton Police Department, Umatilla Tribal Police Department, and ODOT.