OSP explains I-84 closure near Hermiston
By Terry Murry on Friday, March 22nd, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HERMISTON – The Oregon Department of Transportation shut down Interstate 84 eastbound at milepost 202 Wednesday morning. The closure was due to smoke from a commercial motor vehicle fire.
The Oregon State Police responded to the incident at around 10:20 a.m. The trooper reports a passing motorist alerted the CMV driver to smoke and flames coming from a rear wheel well. He stopped and his trailer quickly became engulfed in flames. The driver, identified as Donald Wayne Frost, 36, was able to separate the truck from the trailer. OSP did not specify Frost’s place of residence.
The smoke reduced visibility enough to force the highway closure. The fire in the burning trailer was put out by crews from the Echo Fire Department and Pendleton Fire & Ambulance.
OSP reported a hazmat team also responded to the incident because the trailer was carrying lithium batteries. A check of Oregon Hazmat reports indicates the paperwork for the incident has not yet been filed.
