UPDATE: I-84 now open. For the latest on Oregon roads head to the Oregon Department of Transportation's Trip Check.
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Eastbound lanes of Interstate 84 are back open between LaGrande and Ontario after two semi rollovers left one man dead and sent two others to the hospital.
“The first accident happened about 11:25 a.m. and involved a semi rollover,” said OSP spokesman Lt. Bill Fugate. “The accident caused traffic to back up at least one mile.”
Another accident was then reported shortly before noon, in the area of the traffic jam.
Few details were immediately available, but Fugate said the second accident involved a truck carrying three different flammable chemicals. “That’s why we called for HAZMAT crews,” Fugate said.
“The eastbound and westbound freeways are likely to be closed for several hours and travelers are advised to use alternate routes before entering the eastern Oregon area,” said Oregon Department of Transportation spokesman Tom Strandberg.
Electronic billboards along Interstate 84 from the Idaho/Oregon border to Ada County are advising drivers to use caution and find alternate routes.
“The eastbound closure will likely be extended to Pendleton, due to limited truck parking space in La Grande,” Strandberg added. “U.S. 26 is also closed to through traffic and is not a viable alternate route.”
Stay with Idaho On Your Side as more information becomes available.
