Farm laborers injured in rollover crash on I-84

Oregon State Police (OSP) is continuing the investigation into Saturday afternoon's rollover crash involving a worker transport van on Interstate 84 about eight miles east of Boardman. Troopers confirmed the van contained 16 total occupants, including the driver, who was cited related to the crash.

According to OSP Sergeant Allan Muhs, on June 14, 2008 at approximately 5:00 p.m. a 1981 Dodge extended van driven by Abraham Rosas Vadovinos, age 44, from the Hermiston/Umatilla area was eastbound on Interstate 84 near exit 171 when a tire failure occurred on the left rear tire. The driver lost control veering slightly to the right, over-corrected back to the left causing the van to begin to rotate counter clockwise and move across both eastbound lanes. The van entered into the center median where it tripped and rolled at least 1 1/2 times before coming to rest on its top.

Passengers included 11 men and four women between the ages 21 and 51.

All occupants in the vehicle were transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston. One passenger identified as Francisco Amberocio Geronimo, age 24, was subsequently flown by Life Flight to Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland with critical injuries. Two other critically injured persons were being treated at Good Shepherd along with the less seriously injured.

Preliminary investigation indicates none of the occupants were using safety restraints in the van owned and operated by Moreno Labor Farms in Umatilla. It is believed the workers were returning after work to the Hermiston/Umatilla area.

Abraham Rosas Vadovinos was cited for Unlawful Operation of a Motor Vehicle Without a Valid Operators License.

OSP was assisted at the scene by the Morrow County Sheriff's office, Boardman Police Department, Boardman Fire Department and Ambulance, Hermiston Ambulance, Irrigon Ambulance, and ODOT.