Recent Baker County rollover crash caused by an interfering dog
By Garrett Christensen on Wednesday, June 26th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER COUNTY – It is exceedingly common for pets, especially dogs, to tag along for car rides. That said, animals can be just as disruptive in the car as they can be at home, as demonstrated by a recent single vehicle crash out of Baker County. The incident in question took place at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 23, along I-84 near milepost 313 eastbound, roughly eight miles west of Baker City. The full Oregon State Police description of the crash is as follows:
“The driver of a Blue 2024 Subaru lost control while traveling on 184. The Subaru was traveling eastbound when the driver was interfered with by his passenger dog. The driver became briefly inattentive and veered off of the roadway towards the right shoulder. The Subaru struck a highway sign as it approached the 313 exit. The Subaru rolled and came to an uncontrolled rest blocking the exit. EMS responded to the scene, but was refused by the driver. There were no injuries reported by the driver. ODOT assisted at the scene. The exit was blocked for approximately 30 minutes. No citations were issued.”
What specifically “interfered with” refers to was not defined by OSP. Nonetheless, drivers should always be mindful of their pet’s behavior when traveling in the car with them. As recommended by The Oregon Department of Transportation in the Oregon Driver Manual:
“Do not take your eyes off the road to turn around to deal with the needs of passengers, children or pets. If you must give attention to passengers or animals, pull over to the side of the road and park your vehicle.”
(A stock image was used for this article)
