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News Release

OSP ARRESTS DRIVER AFTER INCIDENT INVOLVING ODOT WORKERS ON CLOSED OFF-RAMP - 07/16/26

HOOD RIVER COUNTY, Ore. (16 July 2026) – On July 15, 2026, the Oregon State Police arrested a driver who entered a closed Interstate 84 off-ramp earlier in the day and struck two Oregon Department of Transportation workers before leaving the scene. 

 

At approximately 4:10 a.m., ODOT had closed the Exit 64 eastbound off-ramp in Hood River while crews worked to remove a crashed commercial motor vehicle and its trailer. Despite the closure, the driver of a white Porsche entered the off-ramp and told workers he needed to take the exit to get to work. 

 

As the Porsche drove through the closure, it struck two ODOT workers who were staffing the area. Neither worker was injured, and both declined medical treatment. 

 

The driver, Gregory Adam Polanski, 43, of Hood River, left before law enforcement arrived. 

 

At approximately 5:46 p.m., OSP troopers located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. Polanski was arrested and booked into the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility (NORCOR) for reckless driving, two counts of recklessly endangering another person, and recklessly endangering highway workers. 

 

OSP reminds motorists that highway work zones are in place to protect both workers and the traveling public. Drivers are required to obey traffic control devices, road closures, and directions from roadway workers. 

 

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About the Oregon State Police 

Oregon State Police (OSP) is a multi-disciplined organization that is charged with protecting the people, wildlife, and natural resources in Oregon. OSP enforces traffic laws on the state’s roadways, investigates and solves crime, conducts postmortem examinations and forensic analysis, and provides background checks, and law enforcement data. The agency regulates gaming and enforces fish, wildlife, and natural resource laws. OSP is comprised of more than 1,400 staff members – including troopers, investigators, and professional staff – who provide a full range of policing and public safety services to Oregon and other law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon.  

OSP ARRESTS DRIVER AFTER INCIDENT INVOLVING ODOT WORKERS ON CLOSED OFF-RAMP - 07/16/26

HOOD RIVER COUNTY, Ore. (16 July 2026) – On July 15, 2026, the Oregon State Police arrested a driver who entered a closed Interstate 84 off-ramp earlier in the day and struck two Oregon Department of Transportation workers before leaving the scene. 

 

At approximately 4:10 a.m., ODOT had closed the Exit 64 eastbound off-ramp in Hood River while crews worked to remove a crashed commercial motor vehicle and its trailer. Despite the closure, the driver of a white Porsche entered the off-ramp and told workers he needed to take the exit to get to work. 

 

As the Porsche drove through the closure, it struck two ODOT workers who were staffing the area. Neither worker was injured, and both declined medical treatment. 

 

The driver, Gregory Adam Polanski, 43, of Hood River, left before law enforcement arrived. 

 

At approximately 5:46 p.m., OSP troopers located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. Polanski was arrested and booked into the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility (NORCOR) for reckless driving, two counts of recklessly endangering another person, and recklessly endangering highway workers. 

 

OSP reminds motorists that highway work zones are in place to protect both workers and the traveling public. Drivers are required to obey traffic control devices, road closures, and directions from roadway workers. 

 

# # # 

 

About the Oregon State Police 

Oregon State Police (OSP) is a multi-disciplined organization that is charged with protecting the people, wildlife, and natural resources in Oregon. OSP enforces traffic laws on the state’s roadways, investigates and solves crime, conducts postmortem examinations and forensic analysis, and provides background checks, and law enforcement data. The agency regulates gaming and enforces fish, wildlife, and natural resource laws. OSP is comprised of more than 1,400 staff members – including troopers, investigators, and professional staff – who provide a full range of policing and public safety services to Oregon and other law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon.