Salem-News.com Pendleton articles

Bus Crash in Eastern Oregon Kills Nine

The bus crashed while traveling from Las Vegas to Vancouver, British Columbia.

(PENDLETON) - Police say a passenger bus carrying an unconfirmed number of people lost control on the snow/ice covered westbound lanes of Interstate 84 Sunday, prior to 10:30 a.m., near milepost 227.

Umatilla County District Attorney Found Guilty of Official Misconduct

Dean Gushwa resigns after judge's finding of guilt for official misconduct.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Umatilla County District Attorney Dean Gushwa was found guilty today of official misconduct and resigned.

Gushwa waived his right to a jury and was found guilty by Circuit Judge Gregory Baxter after a stipulated facts trial. Baxter sentenced Gushwa to 3 years probation, during which time he cannot hold public office.

Fatal Traffic Crash - Highway 395 Near Pilot Rock

(PILOT ROCK, Ore.) - Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers are continuing the investigation into Sunday morning's single vehicle fatal traffic crash on Highway 395 near Pilot Rock that resulted in the death of an adult female and injuries to a male passenger.

Former OSP Trooper Facing Theft and Official Misconduct Charges in Umatilla County

(Pendleton, Oregon) - A former state trooper will be arraigned December 7th in Umatilla County Circuit Court on theft and official misconduct charges following an investigation into allegations he falsified time cards and stole gasoline using a department issued gas card.

Carlton Man Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter and DUII Charges

The Umatilla County District Attorney's Office moves forward with case involving October 2008 Quadruple Fatal Crash east of Pendleton‏.

(PENDLETON, Ore.) - 47-year old John Cole Carlgren of Carlton, Oregon pleaded guilty Thursday morning to charges arising from the October 2008 vehicular homicide east of Pendleton on Interstate 84 that claimed the lives of Jessie Cline, William Nephi Johnson, Michelle Marie Sawyer, and Fred Angel Young Jr.

Dean Gushwa with the Umatilla County
The defendant pleaded guilty to four counts of Manslaughter in the First Degree and one count of misdemeanor Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII).

Pendleton Man Critically Injured While Helping at Scene of Crash (PHOTOS)

The crash happened on Interstate 84 near John Day River.

(PENDLETON, Ore.) - Police say a 46-year old Pendleton-area man sustained critical injuries Monday afternoon when he was struck by an automobile while assisting at a crash scene on Interstate 84 near the John Day River.

Oregon State Police Sergeant Pat Shortt says Monday afternoon at 3:23 PM, a white 2006 Ford Focus driven by 47-year old Juana Fortier of Portland, was eastbound on Interstate 84 near milepost 116 when it hit a spot of black ice, slid off of the south side of the freeway and overturned.

Multiple Highways Close in Northeast Oregon

ODOT Region 5: Multiple highway closures in NE Oregon

(LA GRANDE, Ore.) - Oregon State Police say several state highways in north east Oregon are closed due to high winds, blowing snow with limited visibility and hazardous driving conditions.

Oregon's Department of Transportation has closed Interstate 84 between Pendleton and La Grande, Oregon Highway 11 between I-84 and Milton-Freewater, and Oregon Highway 204 between Weston and mile point 10.

They advise motorists to stay home until the storm passes.

Oregon Trooper Avoids Injury as Semi Smashes Police SUV (PHOTOS)

An out-of-control commercial truck crashes into parked OSP Patrol vehicle on Interstate 84 east of Pendleton.

(PENDLETON, Ore.) - An unoccupied Oregon State Police patrol vehicle was struck at the scene of a jack-knifed commercial truck Wednesday evening on Interstate 84 east of Pendleton. The freeway was closed for approximately two hours after this incident for removal of multiple vehicles in the area.

Oregon State Police Lieutenant Greg Sherman says that at approximately 7:00 PM, OSP Trooper Trampas McCrae was at the scene of a jack-knifed commercial truck westbound on Interstate 84 near milepost 219 near the bottom of Cabbage Hill.

Carlton Man Faces Manslaughter and DUII Charges From Quadruple Fatal Crash Near Pendleton

The driver was treated and released for minor injuries, then arrested on four counts of second-degree Manslaughter and DUII.

(PENDLETON, Ore.) - A Carlton-area man is in custody at the Umatilla County Jail on multiple charges following an early Sunday morning crash on Interstate 84 about ten miles east of Pendleton that killed three men and a woman. Oregon State Police troopers are continuing the investigation with the assistance of the Umatilla County District Attorney's Office and no more information is being released today.

Preliminary investigation indicates that early this morning at approximately 12:19 AM, a 1991 Chevrolet Beretta driven by 29-year old Jesse Cline of Hermiston, was westbound on Interstate 84 near milepost 219 when it was struck from behind by a westbound 1999 Dodge Dakota pickup driven by 46-year old John Cole Carlgren of Carlton.

State Police troopers say the preliminary highway area of impact is on the right shoulder. After impact the Chevrolet traveled across the westbound lanes and came to rest on the left shoulder, and the Dodge pickup came to rest on the right shoulder.

Lightning Starts Fires in NE Oregon

‏Reconnaissance observation flights are scheduled to scout for holdover lightning fires that pop up as the day heats up.

(PENDLETON, Ore.) - Firefighters are busy working on over 50 active fires scattered across lands protected by Oregon Department of Forestry, Umatilla National Forest, and Washington Department of Natural Resources. These fires are a result of the recent lighting activity and range in size from a single burning snag to 460 acres of grass and timber.

Fire managers are concerned with the steep terrain and heavy fuels that could provide potential for fire growth. The Eagle Creek Fire, located off Wildhorse Road six miles SE of Athena, Oregon, has burned 460 acres and is 40% contained. The Buckaroo Fire, burning 10 miles west of Dale, Oregon on the north side of the North Fork of the John Day River, is at 100 acres and 20% contained. 93 acres have burned on the Cable Creek Fire six miles east of Ukiah. Oregon. The fire burned in timber and grass along Cable Creek and Hwy 244 and is 70% contained.