An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Kenneth D. McDonald, died April 18, 2019. McDonald was incarcerated at Snake River Correctional Institution (SRCI) in Ontario and passed away in the infirmary while on hospice. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified.

McDonald entered DOC custody on February 4, 2016, from Lane County with an earliest release date of July 2, 2024. McDonald was 69 years old. Next of kin has been notified.

DOC takes all in-custody deaths seriously. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of 14,700 individuals who are incarcerated in 14 institutions across the state. While crime information is public record, DOC elects to disclose only upon request out of respect for any family or victims.

SRCI is a multi-custody prison in Ontario that houses approximately 3,000 adults in custody. SRCI has multiple special housing units including disciplinary segregation, intensive management, infirmary (with hospice) with 24-hour nursing care, and an administrative segregation unit. SRCI participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises including a contact center, laundry, and sign shop. SRCI specializes in incentive housing, specialized housing, individuals with mental health/medical vulnerabilities, education and trades programs, cognitive and parenting programs, and institution work programs. SRCI opened in 1991 and is the largest correctional institution in the state.

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On Wednesday, April 17, 2019, at approximately 6:19 P.M. Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle collision on Highway 201N near milepost 21.

Preliminary investigation reveals a Pontiac Sunfire, operated by Roberta Chandler (41) of Ontario, was southbound on Highway 201N when for unknown reasons drifted into the northbound lane and collided with a northbound Chevy Impala, operated by Sergio Sandoval (58) of Weiser, ID.

Chandler sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.  Her passenger, Tira Zacarias (29) of New Plymouth, ID, was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Boise, ID.

Sandoval and his passenger, Marina Navarette-Hernandez (57) of Weiser, ID. were transported by ground to the hospital.

OSP was assisted by Treasure Valley Paramedics, Ontario Fire and Rescue, and ODOT

Preliminary investigation revealed that Jordan Cutts (24) of Forest Grove was northbound on Glencoe Rd. operating a silver Mazda Protege. He crossed into the southbound lane to make a turn onto Wren Rd. and struck a Washington County Sheriff's car being operated by Deputy Frank Ward head on.

Both drivers were transported to Legacy Emmanuel Hospital with serious injuries. 

The intersection was closed for approximately 3.5 hours.

OSP was assisted by North Plains Police Department, Hillsboro Police Department, Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue, Washington County Sheriff's Office, Washington County Land Use and Transportation, and Oregon Department of Transportation

Oregon State Police and emergency personnel are on scene of a two vehicle crash at the intersection of Glencoe Rd / Wren Rd in Washington County.

The crash occurred at approximately 3:00 PM.

Operators of both involved vehicles have been transported to area hospital with injuries.

Investigation is continuing.

A threatened Northwest frog that lost habitat to development, agriculture and invasive species has found refuge in what may seem like an unlikely place: beneath the high-voltage power lines of the Bonneville Power Administration.

Oregon spotted frogs lay eggs in the shallow water provided by wetlands, such as those that exist within many BPA transmission line corridors. Because high-growing vegetation poses a risk to power lines, BPA works to cultivate low-growing native plants that protect wetlands and maintain open-water habitats, all of which are beneficial to frogs.

BPA works closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies to ensure it protects suitable habitat for the Oregon spotted frog and other wildlife living beneath its transmission lines. Methods include reducing the unintentional injury of frogs from equipment, hand mowing or cutting non-native vegetation and carefully planning spot herbicide use.

The agency’s practice of maintaining healthy plant communities along its rights-of-way and limiting the use of herbicides decreases maintenance costs and improves power system reliability.

The Oregon spotted frog isn’t the only species that thrives in the improved habitat. BPA’s techniques promote the growth of low-growing shrubs and flowering plants that are critical for imperiled honey bees and other pollinators.

The Oregon spotted frog is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. It once lived in open wetlands, lakes, ponds, streams and occasionally slow-moving rivers from northern California to British Columbia.

Today, the threatened frog can still be found in some river basins in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, but scientists have not documented the animal in northern California for more than a century.

About BPA

The Bonneville Power Administration, headquartered in Portland, Ore., is a nonprofit federal power marketer that sells wholesale electricity from 31 federal dams and one nuclear plant to 142 Northwest electric utilities, serving millions of consumers and businesses in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana and parts of California, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. BPA delivers power via more than 15,000 circuit miles of lines and 261 substations to 475 transmission customers. In all, BPA markets about a third of the electricity consumed in the Northwest and operates three-quarters of the region’s high-voltage transmission grid. BPA also funds one of the largest fish and wildlife programs in the world, and, with its partners, pursues cost-effective energy savings and operational solutions that help maintain affordable, reliable and carbon-free electric power for the Northwest. www.bpa.gov

An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Tammara Upton, died yesterday morning, April 14, 2019. Upton was incarcerated at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF) and passed away in the infirmary while on hospice care. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified.

Upton entered DOC custody on November 4, 1991, from Douglas County with no parole. Upton was 55 years old. Next of kin has been notified. No other details are available at this time.

DOC takes all in-custody deaths seriously. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of 14,900 individuals who are incarcerated in 14 institutions across the state. While crime information is public record, DOC elects to disclose only upon request out of respect for any family or victims.

CCCF is a multi-custody prison located in Wilsonville accommodating 1,260 adults in custody. The prison has cell and dormitory housing, work programs, skills training, treatment programs, health services, religious services, physical plant, a central records unit, and administrative areas. CCCF participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises, including a contact center, auto CAD, and document scanning. In addition, CCCF houses the state’s intake center, which provides intake and evaluation of all individuals committed to state custody by the courts. The intake center houses approximately 400 adults in custody. CCCF’s minimum facility opened in 2001, and the medium facility opened in 2002.

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On Friday, April 12, 2019, at approximately 9:40 P.M.. Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to the report of single vehicle commercial motor vehicle collision on Interstate 82 near milepost 10.

The preliminary investigation revealed a commercial motor vehicle was eastbound on Interstate 82 when it left the roadway and overturned. 

The driver sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

The passenger was transported by Life Flight to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, WA.

Interstate 82 was closed for approximately 5 hours.

OSP was assisted by the Umatilla County Fire Department, Life Flight, Umatilla County Sheriff's Office, Morrow County Sheriff's Office, Stanfield Police Department, and ODOT.