Three People Injured in I-84 Crash Near Arlington; Semi-Truck Driver Arrested

GILLIAM COUNTY, Ore. — Three people were injured, including one seriously, after a semi-truck towing three trailers crossed the median and struck a passenger vehicle on Interstate 84 near Arlington Thursday morning.

The crash happened at approximately 6:49 a.m. on September 24 near milepost 137, according to Oregon State Police.

The preliminary investigation found that a white Freightliner semi-truck towing triple trailers was traveling eastbound when, for an unknown reason, it left its lane and struck the center median. The truck then crossed through the median into the westbound lanes.

The Freightliner, driven by 32-year-old Edwin Alexander Gomez of Pasco, Washington, struck a westbound white Ford Edge operated by 51-year-old Pratapa Reddy Koppula of West Hills, California. The Ford was hit by one of the trailers and rolled over.

The Freightliner and one trailer came to rest on the center median, while two other trailers stopped across the westbound lanes and the westbound on-ramp from Arlington. The Ford Edge came to rest on the opposite side of the guardrail along the right shoulder.

Koppula was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. Gomez also was transported with minor injuries.

A passenger in the Freightliner, 26-year-old Ashleigh Darlene Krupkat of Kennewick, Washington, suffered serious injuries and was taken to an area hospital.

Gomez was arrested on suspicion of DUII, reckless driving, recklessly endangering another person and fourth-degree assault. After being medically cleared, he was lodged at the Northern Oregon Regional Corrections Facility in The Dalles.

The westbound lanes of I-84 were affected for approximately eight hours while crews removed hazardous materials, conducted the crash investigation, recovered the vehicles, cleared debris from the damaged median and repaired the center median.

The Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office, North Gilliam Medic, North Gilliam Rural Fire Protection District and the Oregon Department of Transportation assisted Oregon State Police with the response.