One cow reported missing following animal strike in Baker County
By Garrett Christensen on Tuesday, September 1st, 2026 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER COUNTY – The Oregon State Police recently responded to a cow vs car crash on Highway 86 in Baker County. The collision specifically occurred on Friday, August 28, at around 9:20 p.m. near milepost 63, between Halfway and Oxbow. Thankfully, no injuries to the driver were reported by OSP, though the cow could not actually be located on the night of the crash. The full summary of the collision, as provided by OSP in a recent press log, is as follows:
“OSP responded to a vehicle crash involving a blue Mazda SUV and a cow on Highway 86 near mile post 63. There was minor damage to the vehicle, and the cow could not be located on the night of the incident. OSP will continue to follow up in trying to locate the cow and its owner. There were no injuries and the vehicle was able to drive away from the scene. No enforcement action taken.”
As a reminder to drivers, 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 the roadway much like any wild animal and could be difficult to spot in time, especially at night.
