Preliminary Information Regarding Death Investigation at Welches-area Parking Lot

The victim is identifued as 44-year old John Eugene Jarrett Jr. of Beaverton.

Fatal scene where driver died in Welches, Oregon parkin lot. Photos: Oregon State Police

(CLACKAMAS, Ore.) - Oregon State Police and the Clackamas County Medical Examiner's Office are investigating the apparent accidental death of a food service delivery employee Tuesday morning who was found injured at the Welches Subway sandwich shop parking lot.

Oregon State Police Lieutenant Gregg Hastings, says the investigation indicates that today around 10:45 a.m., the victim, who works for Food Services of America, parked his commercial truck in the rear parking lot of the Welches Subway restaurant.

Then two commercial truck drivers reportedly entered the parking lot from the Salmon River Road access driving trucks pulling two trailers, and drove past the victim's truck.

Hastings said, "They were slowly driving through the rear lot to park in a gravel area east of the restaurant, and as they drove by they saw the victim standing on a raised rail gate on the back of his semi-trailer."

Hastings says shortly after the truckers parked their vehicles, a man who drive a small sport utility vehicle into the parking lot, found the injured victim lying on the pavement.

"Troopers and the medical examiner are investigating the possibility that as the second truck and trailers drove past; the victim fell or jumped off the raised rail gate, landed in the path of a passing trailer and was run over by one of the trailer's wheels."

Hastings says emergency responders were notified. Hoodland Fire Department and AMR ambulance personnel responded to the scene and started treatment. The victim died before he could be transported."

The victim is identifued as 44-year old John Eugene Jarrett Jr. of Beaverton. His next of kin were out of the area and contacted at a relative's home in La Grande.

OSP troopers from Government Camp and Portland offices are continuing the investigation with the assistance of the Clackamas County Medical Examiner's Office.

Police did not release the names of the drivers of the two semi trucks that passed Mr. Jarrett's truck.

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office assisted at the scene, and Oregon OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Division was notified.