Wrong-way driver strikes Gilliam County patrol vehicle on I-84; two arrested for DUII

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Oct 20

Written By Columbia Community Connection

By Joshuah Albert

Arlington, Ore., Oct. 20, 2026 — A wrong-way driver struck a Gilliam County sheriff's patrol vehicle on Interstate 84 early Friday, Oct. 16, following a series of dangerous driving incidents that resulted in two arrests for driving under the influence of intoxicants.

According to the Gilliam County Sheriff's Office, the incidents began around 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, when Frontier Regional 911 received a report of an eastbound vehicle near milepost 100, about four miles west of Biggs Junction in Sherman County.

A second report described a similar vehicle traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes near milepost 122 in Gilliam County.

Deputies from Gilliam and Sherman counties, along with Oregon State Police, responded and discovered a minor crash involving another motorist near milepost 123. Witnesses reported the suspected vehicle had been traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes.

The motorist involved in the crash was evaluated by medical personnel and continued traveling after minor vehicle repairs. Officers were unable to locate the suspected wrong-way driver, who apparently had turned around and resumed traveling in the proper direction.

About two hours later, a Gilliam County sheriff's sergeant returning toward Arlington spotted an unrelated vehicle traveling 114 mph near milepost 133 westbound.

The sergeant stopped the vehicle near milepost 122, where deputies observed open alcohol containers and signs of impairment.

The driver, a 25-year-old Keizer man, was arrested on suspicion of DUII and reckless driving. He also received citations for driving without an operator's license, speeding and having an open container of alcohol.

Shortly after midnight Friday, deputies received additional reports of a wrong-way driver matching the description from the earlier incident. The vehicle was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes near milepost 144, approximately seven miles east of Arlington.

A Gilliam County deputy returning from transporting the earlier DUII suspect encountered the vehicle heading directly toward him near the Arlington exit at milepost 137.

According to the Sheriff's Office, the deputy deliberately positioned his patrol vehicle in the driver's path to stop the vehicle from continuing toward other motorists. The suspected wrong-way driver struck the patrol vehicle, causing damage.

The vehicle eventually stopped in the median near milepost 136, where the driver was taken into custody.

North Gilliam EMS evaluated both the deputy and the driver. The deputy was not injured.

Oregon State Police took the lead in the investigation. Authorities said the driver, a 40-year-old Boardman man, provided a breath sample indicating an alcohol concentration significantly above the legal limit.

He was arrested on suspicion of DUII, two counts each of reckless driving, recklessly endangering another person and hit-and-run involving property damage.

The Sheriff's Office did not release the names of either arrested driver.

The incidents involved multiple agencies, including Frontier Regional 911, the Sherman County Sheriff's Office, Oregon State Police, North Gilliam Medic Ambulance, North Gilliam Rural Fire Protection District and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Authorities urged motorists who encounter suspected impaired or wrong-way drivers to keep their distance and call 911 when safe, providing the vehicle's location, direction of travel and description.