Speed and impairment suspected in fatal I-82 crash near Umatilla

By Griffin Beach on Tuesday, July 7th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories

UMATILLA – A Kennewick man was killed and three others were injured after a rollover crash on Interstate 82 near Umatilla.

Oregon State Police said the crash occurred near Umatilla, two miles south of the Oregon-Washington border shortly after midnight Sunday morning. A black Dodge Ram driven by a 28-year-old Kennewick resident was traveling westbound towards Washington when it left the road and rolled several times.

One passenger, Martin Romulo Diaz, 42, of Kennewick, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver and a 48-year-old passenger were transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. A 21-year-old passenger was also hospitalized with minor injuries.

Police believe speed and impairment were factors in the crash. All of the vehicle’s occupants were from Kennewick.