HERMISTON, OR : Lewiston church van crashes near Hermiston on February, Thursday 1st 2018

A large passenger van carrying a youth group from Lewiston crashed Thursday afternoon near the intersection of interstates 82 and 84 outside Hermiston. Eleven people were in the van, and two were flown to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland with serious injuries.

Oregon State Police Sgt. Seth Cooney said the vehicle, a 2000 Ford Econoline, was driven by Largent Reeb, 28, of Lewiston. Reeb was transporting 10 passengers age 14-20 who are members of multiple Lewiston churches, primarily River City Church. The group reportedly was traveling to "Generation Unleashed," an annual Christian youth conference in Portland, Ore.

Cooney said the van was traveling eastbound on I-82 around 1 p.m., approaching I-84.

"They were in the fast lane, but they needed to go westbound, so the driver attempted to swerve from the fast lane to make the exit. He lost control of the van, slid off the north shoulder of the exit ramp, and rolled one-and-a-half revolutions," Cooney said.

He said one juvenile passenger was ejected from the vehicle and two were partially ejected. Other than the two who were flown to the Richland hospital, eight were taken to Good Shepherd Hospital in Hermiston for treatment - six by Umatilla County Fire Department, and two by Morrow County Ambulance.

Samantha Pierce, 15, a member of the youth group who attends New Bridges Church in Lewiston, was at Good Shepherd Hospital on Thursday evening after being injured in the crash. Pierce, daughter of Kellie and Chad Pierce, of Lewiston, was expected to be released Thursday night, Kellie Pierce said.

Cooney said the exit ramp from I-82 to I-84 was closed for more than an hour.

In addition to UCFD and OSP, members of the Umatilla County Sheriff's Office, Morrow County Ambulance, Boardman Fire, ODOT and Life Flight helicopters from as far away as Moses Lake, Wash., were on hand to assist.

Source :
Lewiston church van crashes near Hermiston, injuring 10