Driver Falls Asleep at Wheel, Two Seriously Injured in Highway 20 Rollover Crash
By Mindy McKerrall on Tuesday, July 14th, 2026 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News Eastern/Southeast Oregon Top Stories
DESCHUTES COUNTY-A Redmond man and his passenger were hospitalized with serious injuries Friday afternoon, July 10, after a single-vehicle rollover crash on Highway 20, 4 miles west of Hampton.
According to Oregon State Police, the crash occurred at approximately 3:56 PM near milepost 60. Investigators report that forty-two-year-old Jorge Ambriz Morales of Redmond was driving a white Ford Ranger westbound when he fell asleep at the wheel.
The pickup truck veered off the north shoulder of the highway before Morales suddenly overcorrected. The vehicle then crossed back over both the westbound and eastbound travel lanes, plunged down the south shoulder embankment, and rolled over.
The impact completely crushed the cab of the Ford Ranger, trapping and seriously injuring both occupants inside.
Immediately following the crash, several passing motorists stopped their vehicles to assist. These good Samaritans rushed down the embankment to provide critical first aid and comfort to the injured men until emergency responders arrived on the scene.
Due to the severity of his injuries, Morales was airlifted from the scene via Air Life helicopter to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. His passenger, twenty-four-year-old Roberto Garcia Orosco, whose city of residence is currently unknown, was rushed to the same hospital via ground ambulance.
Safety Reminder: According to traffic safety officials, fatigued driving is a leading cause of single-vehicle lane departures. Drivers are urged to pull over to a safe location if they feel drowsiness setting in.
A towing company responded to the scene to recover and tow the heavily damaged pickup truck. Oregon State Police later issued Morales a citation for Careless Driving.
