Incident highlights drivers' responsibility to keep road workers and selves safe
News media contact: public information officer in your area.
July 16, 2026
HOOD RIVER – A close call involving two ODOT workers is a harrowing reminder of the dangers ODOT crews face and the caution drivers need to take in work zones.
ODOT crews on Wednesday morning were responding to an overturned semi-truck when a vehicle drove through a closed off-ramp, hit two ODOT employees on I-84 near Exit 64 in Hood River.
“The driver who entered the closure not only put the crew at risk but also put himself in grave danger by entering an active and hazardous work zone,” said Cascade Locks Maintenance Manager Chris Yamnitsky, who was at the site. “This incident serves as a stark reminder to the crew of the risks we face on a daily basis, and we are thankful that the situation ended without serious injuries to the crew or the public.”
The truck overturned about 2:20 a.m. and spilled some of its load and fuel, requiring a hazmat crew and heavy equipment to remove the fuel, truck, trailer and load. ODOT crews set up traffic control, including several trucks with flashing arrows, and had the shoulder and exit closed while they worked through the night to clear the scene.
During the closure, a vehicle drove through the cones, putting multiple ODOT employees and the driver at risk. Fortunately, there were no injuries, and Oregon State Police arrested the driver on multiple criminal charges Wednesday afternoon.
“I was actually on the phone with Chris hearing it happen in the background,” ODOT District 2C Manager Will Ewing said. “They had the ramp closed so that they could work on removing the giant rolls of paper from the trailer to avoid tipping the whole thing onto the ramp, and we had hazmat cleanup activities on the ramp.”
“A driver drove through the cones, and the crew yelled at the guy and to warn other staff in the work zone,” Ewing said. “The driver’s vehicle made contact with two ODOT employees as he tried to drive through the scene.”
A towing crew was winching the crashed truck onto a tow truck, and ODOT had fully closed the right lane and ramp because it was a hazardous area.
“For both our crews and the traveling public, safety is our top priority,” Yamnitsky said. “We had the B (right) lane and off‑ramp closed due to equipment in the roadway, debris from the crash, and concerns about the load of 3,500‑pound paper rolls shifting and potentially spilling onto the ramp. With the ramp closed, we were supposed to have a safe work area with sufficient space to remove debris and assist the tow company in securing the load so the semi could be cleared and closures lifted as soon as to minimize traffic impacts.”
Drivers must help save lives
Paying attention keeps workers and those traveling through work zones safe. That includes ODOT, county or city crews, contractors and utilities crews, emergency responders including law enforcement, firefighters and medics, as well as tow truck drivers assisting with disabled vehicles and stranded drivers. State law requires you to move over when you see them at work.
When you see people working on a road or shoulder, slow down and exercise caution. Lives depend on it. And it’s not just workers who are in danger – travelers are more often hurt or killed in work zones than workers.
“Hearing what was happening in real time on Wednesday was scary,” Ewing said. “This was entirely avoidable and the outcome could have been so much worse. Work zones are there for a reason. We want everyone to make it home safely.”
|
