Accused elderly drunk driver kills ODOT construction worker on project in Umatilla County
Vehicle (left) hit and killed ODOT flagger on job site on Hwy 11 near Athena, OR
An ODOT construction zone flagger was hit and killed by a driver suspected of being drunk at the wheel Tuesday evening on State Route 11, near Athena, Oregon. Oregon State Police say flagger Tyresa Monaghan, 49, of Kennewick, WA had a vehicle stopped when suddenly a silver minivan side-swiped the stopped vehicle and struck Ms. Monaghan, injuring her fatally. The minivan driver continued through the construction zone for about a mile, nearly hitting several other construction workers.
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Preliminary information shows a construction zone flagger, Tyresa Monaghan (49 ) of Kennewick, WA. had a vehicle stopped when a silver 2005 Chrysler minivan, operated by Leman Bledsoe (76) of Milton-Freewater, side swiped the stopped vehicle and struck Monaghan. Monaghan sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Bledsoe continued for approximately 1 mile in the construction zone, endangering numerous other workers, before stopping. Driver Leman Bledsoe, 76, of Milton-Freewater was determined to be drunk and was jailed for drunk driving, recklessly endangering ODOT workers, reckless driving, fail to perform the duties of a driver among other charges – some to be added later.
Highway 11 was closed for approximately 4.5 hours while OSP reconstructed the sequence of events involved in the accident.
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