PENDLETON, Ore. — Dozens of crashes about 21 miles east of Pendleton caused the closure of Interstate 84 between Pendleton and La Grande, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) reported Monday afternoon.
ODOT fully reopened the freeway early Tuesday morning, which was several hours ahead of schedule. The eastbound lanes were open around midnight and the westbound lanes reopened around 6:30 a.m. ODOT crews, along with over a half-dozen tow companies and Oregon State Police (OPS) worked overnight to clear more than 170 vehicles out of the 1.75 mile stretch of the interstate.
"Outstanding response from our tow companies and all who responded, including law enforcement and EMS," said Marilyn Holt, ODOT District 12 Manager. "They got everyone out fast, which made clearing the scene go well."
ODOT said crews are still working near the roadway and drivers should expect reduced speeds and drive with extra caution.
OSP initially responded to a report of a crash involving multiple vehicles in the westbound lanes between mileposts 229 and 230 around 12:20 p.m.
Photos from the scene posted to tripcheck.com by ODOT showed vehicles spread across the freeway.
OSP said 71 people were transported from the crash scene to a reunification center at the Pendleton Convention Center.
several agencies responded and uninjured persons who were unable to drive away from the scene because of the blockage on Monday were transported to the Pendleton Convention Center.
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