UMATILLA COUNTY, Ore. — Two passengers injured in a fiery rollover crash on Interstate 84 in Umatilla County have died from their injuries, according to an update from the Oregon State Police.
OSP said it was notified on Sunday, July 19, that 24-year-old Abigail Renee Pangelinann Mendiola of Vancouver, Washington, and a 15-year-old male succumbed to injuries they sustained in the July 16 crash.
The crash occurred at approximately 8:27 a.m. Thursday on eastbound Interstate 84 near milepost 207.
According to the preliminary investigation, a gray Dodge Durango driven by Cullen Michael Derr, 38, of Battle Ground, Washington, was traveling eastbound while towing a custom-built utility trailer when, for reasons that remain under investigation, the vehicle left the roadway. The SUV rolled multiple times before catching fire.
Investigators said three passengers were ejected during the crash, including Mendiola, the 15-year-old boy, and a 9-month-old infant. All four occupants, including Derr, were transported to a local hospital. Due to the severity of their injuries, the three passengers were later transferred to hospitals in Oregon and Washington for advanced medical treatment.
The Oregon State Police said Derr was arrested following the crash and booked into the Umatilla County Jail on charges of driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII), reckless driving, three counts of reckless endangering another person, and three counts of third-degree assault.
The 9-month-old infant’s condition has not been released.
Interstate 84 was affected for approximately one hour while emergency crews investigated the scene.
The Oregon State Police were assisted by the Pendleton Police Department, Pendleton Fire & Ambulance, the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oregon Department of Transportation. The crash remains under investigation.
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