Motorcyclist Killed After Semi Pulls Out in Front of Him

Oregon officials have now released the name of the deceased biker who was killed by a semi truck Tuesday near Umatilla.

Oregon State Police say a semi truck towing an agricultural trailer pulled out onto Highway 395 in front of a motorcycle ridden by 40-year-old Jason Wesley Blankenship of Stanfield. He was on the Highway 395 overpass that crosses I-84 near Umatilla.

His bike slammed into and under the semi, killing him at the scene. The truck driver, 41-year-old Roberto Rodriguez-Diaz of Umatilla, was not injured.

The highway was closed for at least 3 hours during the investigation. Diaz could be facing charges in the crash, according to information from the State Patrol:

"...Inattentive driving and failure to obey a traffic control device on the part of RODRIGUEZ-DIAZ are being considered as factors in this crash. The investigation is continuing and will be forwarded to the Umatilla County District Attorney for consideration."