38-year-old struck by semi on offramp in Hood River; third pedestrian fatality in two days
By Joshuah Albert
Hood River, Ore. Dec. 10, 2024 — A pedestrian was struck and killed Monday evening, Dec. 9, on Interstate 84 near Exit 64 in Hood River, authorities said.
The Oregon State Police said they received a report around 5:11 p.m. of a person running eastbound on the westbound off-ramp of I-84. Shortly after, the pedestrian was struck between travel lanes by a yellow commercial vehicle pulling a tanker trailer.
The victim was identified as Michael Joseph Sampson, 38, of Hood River. Officials said Sampson was pronounced dead at the scene. The White Salmon Police Department completed a next-of-kin notification.
A member of the Crash Reconstruction Unit collected evidence at the scene. The Hood River District Attorney and Medical Examiner authorized the removal of the body, and Anderson’s Funeral Home responded.
The interstate was closed for approximately three hours during the investigation, but no vehicles required towing, officials said.
The commercial vehicle’s driver was identified as Carl Ronald Frank, 62, of Kelso, Washington. Other individuals mentioned in the investigation include Tokgoz Ozgur, 33, of Brooklyn, New York, and Phillip Walker Cordell Stearns, 27, of Parkdale, Oregon.
The investigation is ongoing.
This was the third pedestrian to die on Interstate 84 in the last two days.
From Oregon State Police:
On Sunday, December 8, 2024, at 10:09 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a commercial motor vehicle versus pedestrian crash on Interstate 84, near milepost 210, in Umatilla County.
The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Volvo commercial motor vehicle and trailer, operated by Phill Culp (59) of Vancouver (WA), left the slow lane for unknown reasons, struck the guardrail and two pedestrians, before travelling down a steep embankment and rolling onto its side.
The pedestrians, John Charles Harrington (25) and Marcus Anthony Paul (24) of Pendleton were both declared deceased at the scene.
The operator of the Volvo (Culp) suffered minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital.
The highway was impacted for five hours during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
OSP was assisted by Pendleton Fire, Pendleton Police Department, Umatilla Tribal Police Department, and ODOT.
