Cattle rancher charged with manslaughter in head-on collision
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., Oct. 31, 2024 — A cattle rancher and former NFL Football player has been charged with manslaughter and being intoxicated when the pickup he was driving crossed the center lane and struck and killed 45-year-old Joshua Thompson, a father of five, in a head-on collision on Highway 197 on Aug. 21.
Randall Donn Marshall, 77, who lived just five miles from Thompson in the Wamic area is also facing additional charges, according to a press release from Wasco County District Attorney Matthew Ellis.
“A Wasco County grand jury indicted Marshall for Manslaughter in the Second Degree and Criminally Negligent Homicide for the death of Thompson,” Ellis said. “Marshall was further indicted for the misdemeanors of Driving under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving, and Reckless Endangering of his passenger.
Manslaughter is the unlawful killing of another person without malice or premeditation.
On August 21, 2024, Thompson was driving a Chevrolet Silverado Northbound on Hwy 197, and Marshall was traveling Southbound with a passenger in his Dodge Ram. Marshall’s vehicle crossed the center line and struck Thompson’s Chevrolet Silverado head-on. The impact killed Thompson instantly. Marshall was presumed to be under the influence of alcohol when the accident occurred.
Hello, World!
Marshall, 77, is a retired NFL football player. He was drafted by the Falcons in 1970. He appeared in 15 games for the Falcons, two of them as a starter, during the 1970 and 1971 seasons, according to profootballarchives.com.
Marshall was also a key organizer of the Sportsman's Grasscar Racing Association, according to the Wildcatvilleblogspot.
A charging instrument is only an accusation of a crime. Marshall is innocent unless and until proven guilty, Ellis said in the press release.
This case is currently being handled by Deputy District Attorney Caleb Berthelsen and Wasco County District Attorney Elect Kara Davis.
