BAKER COUNTY, OR - The Oregon State Police (OSP) is reporting that on Thursday, September 19, 2023, at 9:40 P.M., OSP responded to a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 84, near milepost 293, in Baker County.
The preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound Mitsubishi Mirage, operated by Rebecca Anne Markle (43) of Caldwell (ID), was in the slow lane when it struck the rear end of a Peterbilt commercial motor vehicle and trailer, operated by Victor Maldonado (44) of Fruitland (ID), causing major damage to the Mitsubishi.
The operator of the Mitsubishi (Markle) and a passenger, a female juvenile (16), were seriously injured and transported to a local hospital for treatment.
A passenger of the Mitsubishi, Philip Wayne Markle (19) of Nampa (ID), was declared deceased at the scene. The deceased was identified as the son of the operator.
Neither passenger in the Mitsubishi was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
The operator of the Peterbilt (Maldonado) was not injured.
The highway was impacted for approximately one hour during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
OSP was assisted by the Baker County Sheriff's Office, Baker Ambulance, Life Flight, and ODOT.
