Head-On Car Accident on Highway 30 Kills One

Date: March 4, 2011
Location: Highway 30 South of Scappoose
Names: Dennis Eugene Gump, George M. Morgan

A St. Helens man was killed in a head-on crash on his way to work.

Oregon State Police report that Dennis Eugene Gump, age 53 of St. Helens, was eastbound on Highway 30 just south of Scappoose on his way to work at about 6:40am. For an unknown reason, Gump’s 2005 Dodge Neon crossed the median into oncoming traffic and collided with a dump truck containing fill dirt being driven by George M. Morgan, age 45, also of St. Helens, for Teevin Bros. Trucking.

Gump died at the scene. Minutes before the crash, Columbia County 911 operators had received two separate reports about a vehicle matching the description of Gump’s car driving erratically. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. There is no evidence that alcohol was a factor in the Oregon car accident.

Morgan was transported to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland with non-life threatening injuries.

Both drivers were using safety restraints.

We extend our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Gump. We can only imagine the pain of losing a loved one so unexpectedly. We also hope that Mr. Morgan will recover quickly and will not suffer any long-lasting effects from this crash.

There’s no way to know what actually happened to cause this tragedy without further investigation. This is certainly a situation that can get complicated fast. A competent Portland personal injury attorney can help family members through the often unpleasant process of working with police investigators and insurance companies.