2 Dead From Two Separate Accidents; I-84 Closed off for Miles in NE Oregon Thursday Morning

(Richland, WA) -- Two are dead in two separate accidents in the Richland area Thursday morning. It started with a fatal crash on Hwy 240 in the Horn Rapids area west of Richland. According to the Washington State Patrol, an eastbound pickup truck crossed the center line and slammed head-on into a car headed west. One passenger from the pickup was pronounced dead. Two other people were critically injured. The man who died has been identified as 56-year-old Benedict Biegler of Yakima.

In the city of Richland, police are investigating another serious head-on collision that occurred around 7am at the intersection of George Washington Way and Comstock Street. A 26-year-old man died at the scene.

Police say a sedan and a truck collided in the northbound lanes of G-Way. A passenger in the car incurred serious injuries. The individual later died from those injuries. Traffic is being diverted onto other streets in a detour around the investigation.

Meanwhile, in Oregon, Department of Transportation officials shut down Westbound I-84 all the way from Pendleton to Ontario due to a crash and subsequent spill of hazardous materials early in the morning. All westbound freeway entrances and exits are closed while crews work to clean up the spill. Eastbound traffic was still open at last update.