Hells Canyon Road Remains Closed Following Rockslide
By Garrett Christensen on Thursday, December 15th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
HELLS CANYON – (Information from Idaho Power and the Adams County Sherriff’s Department) Hells Canyon Road, located between the Oxbow and Hells Canyon Dams, will remain closed as crews continue to clear debris from the recent rockslide and ensure the safety of the area. It is estimated that the road will remain closed until early next week. The current status of the road can be check at idahopower.com/RecreationUpdates.
The rockslide that caused the road closure occurred on Saturday, December 10. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office issued the following release describing the event:
“On 12/10/2022, at approximately 9:15am, Adams County Dispatch received a priority 911 call regarding an industrial accident in Hells Canyon. According to callers, contract employees working on securing a rock shelf on the Idaho Power road from Oxbow to Hells Canyon Dam experienced a significant landslide, sending tons of rock and debris onto the work crew and equipment below. Callers notified dispatch that one employee had sustained significant injury.
Adams County and Baker County deputies arrived at the scene and found that one of the workers was suspended in the air with a boom and bucket to conduct his work. The employee, identified as Stacey Keen (39) of Tillamook, OR, had been struck by multiple pieces of rock and debris and was killed as a result.
Following the accident, the area around the rockslide was unstable and unsafe. As a result, deputies used boats to rescue and transport stranded workers around the rockslide, via the reservoir. Idaho Power geologists and OSHA responded to the area to assess the scene and the potential for additional debris slides. Once the slide area was deemed stable enough, deputies brought in heavy equipment to remove the boom and bucket from the immediate area, and first responders and the Adams County Coroner were able to safely recover Keen.The Adams County Sheriff would like to thank our partners with the Baker County Sheriff’s Office assistance and unwavering support during this tragic incident. Our heart goes out the family and friends of Mr. Keen.”
