Wrong-way driver causes I-84 crash

By Terry Murry on Saturday, October 16th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

UMATILLA COUNTY – Oregon State Police reports that a wrong-way driver on Interstate 84 eastbound crashed head on into a Chevrolet Silverado at milepost 193 Friday night, injuring the driver, Ryan Nelson Yazzie, 39. The driver of the Chevy, Paul Lawrence Comrie, 67, of Pendleton was not injured.

Comrie was given a courtesy ride to St. Anthony Hospital as a precautionary measure. Yazzie was taken by Life Flight to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, Washington.

Yazzie’s vehicle had been the subject of an earlier report approximately three miles west before the crash occurred, according to the OSP accident report. Evidence of alcohol consumption was observed at the scene of the crash.

“Witnesses to the crash stated that Unit 1 driver (Yazzie) had crossed over the median (and) started driving before the crash occurred,” OSP stated.

The eastbound lanes of the interstate were closed due to the crash. OSP was assisted by the Stanfield Police Department, the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office, Umatilla County Fire District No. 1, Echo Fire Department, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.