Mattila to be tried for manslaughter again

By Terry Murry on Wednesday, October 6th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – John McKenzie Mattila, 26, of Weston has been returned to the custody of the Umatilla County Jail to be retried in the hit and run death of Adelaida Solis Torres on Highway 11 on Feb. 22, 2019. The retrial is necessary because the jury that found him guilty in March 2020, did not do so unanimously.

Mattila was convicted of first-degree and second-degree manslaughter, driving under the influence of intoxicants, and failing to perform the duties of a driver. According to the jail roster, the sole charge listed against him this time around is first-degree manslaughter. His bail is set at $500,000.

Adelaida Solis Torres, 52, was working for the Oregon Department of Human Services on the evening of her death when her car was struck on Highway 11 north of Weston. Oregon State Police reported Mattila, who was driving a Dodge pickup, fled the scene after colliding with Torres’ Ford Fusion.

His re-trial date has not yet been set. Mattila is due in court for a pretrial hearing on Oct. 11.