Oregon State Police had a busy New Year’s weekend
By Mindy Gould on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
Harney County-On Saturday afternoon of December 30, 2023, the Oregon State Police and Harney County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a vehicle through a fence with no occupants on scene. The crash was discovered on Highway 78 near milepost 21.
An investigation indicated that a pickup driven by a juvenile was eastbound on Highway 78 at about 75 miles per hour. A juvenile driver reached for an energy drink and looked away from the road. As a result, the truck left the roadway onto the eastbound shoulder. The driver made a series of overcorrections which resulted in the pickup leaving the roadway and off the westbound shoulder. The truck rolled, causing minor damage to a fence, and came to a rest of its wheels. The driver suffered minor injuries and left the scene without contacting law enforcement. The driver was later found at their residence in Burns. The vehicle was removed from the scene.
Also, on Saturday evening, Oregon State Police stopped a vehicle for speeding near mile post 131 on Highway 20, within the city limits of Burns. Evidence of impairment was observed during the stop. The driver Joshua Barron, 38, of Tucson Arizona, consented to field sobriety test. Further evidence of impairment was observed. Barron was interviewed and admitted to the recent consumption of alcohol and medications and to feeling impaired.
Barron was arrested for DUII and transported to the Harney County Jail. He was issued a criminal citation for DUII and a violation citation for Open Container of Alcohol. The vehicle was towed from the scene.
