Two injured in multi-vehicle accident in Umatilla County

Oregon State Police are investigating an accident that left a teenager with critical injuries on Monday. According to Troopers, the accident happened at about 10:31 a.m.

Officers say a silver Pontiac driven by Markus Smith, age 20, stopped at a stop sign at the stop sign at the end of Exit 182 ramp from I-84 WB, before pulling into traffic on Highway 207. The sedan pulled into the path of an oncoming commercial semi driven by Kevin HELZER, age 56, of Hermiston. The Pontiac sideswiped the truck and spun out, hitting another commercial motor vehicle, operated by Glen Sharp, age 53, from Umatilla. That truck was stopped on Highway 207, waiting to turn east onto Interstate 84.

Smith was seriously injured in the crash and taken by ambulance to Good Shepherd Hospital in Hermiston. The 13-year old male passenger suffered critical injuries and was transported by Life Flight to Kadlec Medical Center in Washington and later transported to a Spokane area hospital. Helzer and Sharp were not hurt.

The crash is being investigated by Troopers from the Hermiston Worksite with assistance of the Oregon State Police Reconstruction Unit. OSP was assisted at the scene by the Umatilla County Sheriff's Office, Hermiston Fire and Rescue, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.