Cows & deer in the road cause five crashes in Union & Baker Counties
By Garrett Christensen on Thursday, August 21st, 2025 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
UNION & BAKER COUNTIES – The Oregon state police (OSP) recently responded to a series of vehicle vs. large animal crashes in Union and Baker counties, including two cows and three deer. The first cow vs car crash occurred on Saturday, August 16, at around eight thirty p.m. along High 86 near milepost 7. The official OSP description of the collision, as written in a recent press log, is as follows:
“OSP responded to a single vehicle crash on Highway 86 near mile post 7. The driver of a 2019 Mazda CX5 struck a cow that was in the roadway, which killed the cow. The passenger was transported to the hospital with suspected minor injuries. OSP requested Superior Towing as a preference tow, per the driver’s request. The cow owner was notified. The driver did not receive any citations.”
OSP then responded to a second cow vs car crash about 30 minutes later (just before 9:00 p.m.) at the exact same location and with the second cow belonging to the same owner. The official description of the collision reads:
“OSP responded to a single vehicle crash on Highway 86 near mile post 7. Roadway evidence and driver statements indicated a silver 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling westbound when a cow ran from the shoulder into the roadway. The driver was unable to stop and crashed into the cow. The cow reportedly ran back into the field. The vehicle sustained substantial front-end damage and passenger side damage. The driver of the vehicle was uninjured and arranged for her own tow. No enforcement action taken.”
In addition to the unfortunate bovine, the first deer strike was reported on Thursday, August 14, just before 2:00 a.m. along I-84 Eastbound. The collision specifically occurred at milepost 325 near Durkee. No one was injured, though a commercial motor vehicle reportedly had to be towed from the scene due to damage. The second deer strike occurred around an hour later just down the road at Milepost 324 and involved a sedan. No injuries were reported, and the vehicle was later removed by the driver’s husband.
The final recent deer strike occurred on Monday, August 18, at 9:25 p.m. along I-84 Westbound near milepost 280 in Union County. This latest crash involved another semi-truck, which reportedly had significant damage to the front driver side bumper. Again, no injuries were reported.
Though less common on major highways, drivers should remain alert for deer and other wild animals entering the road, particularly in the mornings and evenings when visibility is reduced. Regarding cows specifically, much of Eastern Oregon falls either partially or fully under open-range jurisdiction, increasing the likelihood of livestock in the roadway. Baker County in particular contains both open-range and livestock district lands. Depending on the specific area, livestock may wander into busy highways much like any wild animal.
