36-year-old Hermiston man killed in crash near Irrigon exit on I-84

From Oregon State Police:

On Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 5:02 a.m., the Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 84, near milepost 168, in Morrow County near the Irrigon

Location of accident near exit at highway 730.

The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Kia Sorrento, operated by Samuel Burgus (33) of Umatilla, was slowed in traffic due to a detour related to another crash.  As the Kia slowed and prepared to merge into the slow lane, a Dodge Ram 1500, operated by Miron Kosovan (23) of Kennewick (WA), failed to slow for traffic and struck the rear end of the Kia in the fast lane.

 A passenger in the Kia, Alexander James Pace (36) of Hermiston, was declared deceased at the scene.  

 The operator of the Kia (Burgus) and a passenger, Oscar Sanchez (49), suffered minor injuries.  A fourth occupant of the Kia, Liobaldo Villa Campos (36) of Hermiston, suffered critical injuries.

 The operator of the Dodge (Kosovan) was assessed for injury on-scene.

 The highway was impacted for approximately three hours during the on-scene investigation. The investigation is on-going. 

 OSP was assisted by Boardman Fire, the Morrow County Sheriff's Office, and ODOT.