Oregon authorities continue to investigate a tragic crash that killed an elderly driver, and blocked the Westbound lanes of the interstate for much of the day Monday.

Oregon State Patrol troopers say shortly before 8am, an oversized heavy equipment load was Westbound near Boardman, escorted by convoy marker vehicles with flashing lights.  A rolling slow-down of vehicles was being used to prevent other motorists from moving past the group of vehicles.

As traffic was slowing, a Ford Explorer towing a trailer was struck from behind by a Ford Mustang.  The Mustang was driven by a 27-year-old male, and the 80-year-old victim.  The car was disabled and unable to move. As the driver was helping the elderly man from the car,  three large commercial vehicles were approaching and unable to stop.

Two of them were able to swerve and pass the Mustang on either side, but the third was not, and struck the wrecked car head-on, also hitting the elderly man.  He sustained fatal injuries from the impact.

The impact was hard enough to spin the Mustang into the second commercial vehicle before it came to a rest in the middle of the freeway.   The lanes were closed for several hours due to cleanup and investigation.

The identity of the victim has not yet been released.

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