Driver Arrested in Fatal Traffic Crash on Interstate 82 (PHOTOS)

Before the fatal crash, the pair of men, enroute to a funeral in Salem, Oregon, were cited by police in three states for speeding.

Karpeyev Photograph - Umatilla County Sheriff's Office Photograph Source: Oregon State Police

(UMATILLA, Ore.) - Oregon State Police troopers arrested the driver of a van involved in a Friday morning crash that resulted in the death of a Forest Grove-area man on Interstate 82 south of Umatilla.

Investigators say that prior to the fatal crash, the driver had received speeding citations from police in three other states. The two men were reportedly enroute from Minnesota to the Salem area for a funeral.

Friday at approximately 10:15 a.m. a 2005 Dodge Caravan driven by 23-year Anton Yevgenyevich Karpeyev of Portland, was eastbound on Interstate 82 near milepost 5 when it began to pass vehicles occupying both left and right eastbound lanes by using the center median shoulder, police said.

Karpeyev lost control of the van in some gravel, over-corrected and veered across both eastbound lanes where it overturned several times on the right shoulder.

The passenger, identified as 23-year old David Allen Ferguson of Forest Grove, was ejected and critically injured.

Mr. Ferguson was transported to Good Shepherd Hospital in Hermiston where he died from his injuries. He was not using safety restraints.

Karpeyev was believed to be using safety restraints. He was transported to Good Shepherd Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

After being treated at the hospital, OSP Trooper Noel Salinas arrested Karpeyev and lodged him at the Umatilla County Jail for Manslaughter in the Second Degree, Criminally Negligent Homicide and Reckless Driving.

Troopers learned Karpeyev was cited along the route in Montana, Idaho and Washington for speed violations. No information is available regarding the actual cited speeds.

OSP troopers from the Pendleton Area Command office and Hermiston worksite are continuing the investigation. Umatilla Police Department, Umatilla Fire Department and Hermiston Fire Department assisted at the scene.