The crash occurred on Highway 20 in Malheur County near milepost 228 at approximately 9:42 a.m. on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
Malheur County, OR – One person was killed after a single-vehicle crash on Highway 20 Thursday morning, according to the Oregon State Police (OSP).
The crash occurred on Highway 20 in Malheur County near milepost 228 at approximately 9:42 a.m. on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
OSP’s preliminary investigation indicates that a westbound Hyundai Kona operated by 61-year-old Mark Daniel Waggoner of Meridian, Idaho, left the roadway for unknown reasons. The vehicle rolled and became submerged in the Malheur River.
Waggoner, the operator of the Hyundai, was declared deceased at the scene. No other occupants were reported. Authorities did not report any arrests in connection with the crash.
The cause of the collision remains under investigation by the Oregon State Police as they work to determine factors that contributed to the vehicle leaving the roadway.
OSP troopers responded to the scene and were assisted by the Vale Fire Department and the Oregon Department of Transportation during the on-scene investigation.
Highway 20 was not impacted during the investigation, and traffic flow in the area remained normal while emergency crews worked at the scene.
The fatal Malheur County crash on Highway 20 remains under investigation by the Oregon State Police as officials continue to examine the circumstances that led to the single-vehicle collision.
Oregon Crash Statistics
Preliminary statewide data from the Oregon Department of Transportation show that traffic fatalities on Oregon roads have remained high in recent years, with 587 people killed in crashes in 2023 and an estimated 539 killed in 2024, according to the agency’s safety reports. Rural roads like those in eastern Oregon often see serious injury and fatal crashes when vehicles run off the roadway — a common pattern in single-vehicle collisions. Oregon’s efforts to improve road safety include targeted investments in infrastructure and safety programs to address these trends.
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