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| Fatal Traffic Crash - Interstate 84 in Pendleton Area | ||
| 12/14/2007 | ||
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Trooper Amy Ford Oregon State Police - Pendleton Office: (541) 278-4090 Ken Palke Communications Officer Addictions and Mental Health Division DHS Office of Communications Office: (503) 947-5286 An 18-year old female patient from Blue Mountain Recovery Center died Thursday from injuries she received after jumping from a moving Department of Human Services van and being struck by another vehicle westbound Interstate 84 in the Pendleton area. On December 13, 2007 at approximately 4:50 p.m. HEATHER N. WILLIAMS, age 18, from Veneta, was being transported in a Department of Human Services (DHS) van westbound Interstate 84 near milepost 205. The van, driven by DHS employee JOHN L. JONES, age 51, from Pendleton, was westbound in the right lane when WILLIAMS reportedly unsecured her safety restraints, opened the van's door and jumped out onto the left lane. JONES immediately pulled onto the right shoulder, stopped and got out of the van. He saw WILLIAMS trying to get up and ran to help get her to safety from the highway. As JONES was getting to WILLIAMS, they were struck by a westbound 1995 Ford Explorer driven by JOSEPH PAUL MERRISS, age 50, from Beaverton. WILLIAMS was transported to St. Anthony's Hospital where she died after arrival. Next of kin have been notified. JONES, who was accompanied in the van by another DHS employee at the time of the incident, was transported by a DHS employee to St. Anthony's Hospital where he was treated for a minor injury. MERRISS was not injured. The Oregon State Police is completing the investigation with the assistance of the Umatilla County District Attorney's Office. No additional details are available. Questions regarding the victim and Blue Mountain Recovery Center should be directed to the list DHS contact. ### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
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