A 64-year-old semi-truck driver from La Crosse, Wisconsin, died Thursday after his rig left Interstate 84 and rolled about 10 miles west of Arlington. Troopers say the truck began swerving in the westbound lanes, broke through a guardrail and landed on its side. The driver was pronounced dead shortly after the crash, and one lane of the interstate was shut down while emergency crews worked the scene. Investigators say evidence at the site pointed to a medical emergency as the likely cause.
What Investigators Reported
An Oregon State Police report says the semi started to swerve on I-84 westbound before crashing through a guardrail and coming to rest on its side. The Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office pronounced the driver shortly after, and the crash briefly closed one lane while troopers investigated, according to Elkhorn Media Group.
I-84’s Hazards In Rural Gilliam County
The stretch of I-84 through Gilliam County sees a disproportionate number of crashes in colder months; the county transportation plan notes that many incidents occur on wet, icy or snow-covered pavement. Oregon Department of Transportation planning documents also highlight that fixed-object and non-collision crashes are common on interstate segments, underscoring the risk when a medical event happens at highway speed, per ODOT's Gilliam County plan.
Local Response And Travel Impacts
North Gilliam Rural Fire Protection District and other local crews responded to the crash scene; a photo from the response was credited to the district's Facebook page in reporting. The driver was not named and troopers continue to probe the crash, according to Elkhorn Media Group. Motorists should expect lane restrictions and watch for changing road conditions on I-84 through eastern Gilliam County.
