Police Investigate Fatal Traffic Crash on Highway 58 west of Oakridge

Greg Muller was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was driving for Sherwin Williams Company transporting clothing and furniture.

Photos of fatal crash scene: Oregon State Police

(OAKRIDGE, Ore.) - Oregon State Police have tentatively identified the driver of the vehicle believed to be involved in Thursday morning's fatal traffic crash on Highway 58 west of Oakridge.

A Sparks, Nevada man died in the crash when his commercial truck collided with several large bales of hay that fell off a semi-trailer traveling in the opposite direction about seven miles west of Oakridge. No other information will be released at this time while OSP troopers continue their investigation.

According to OSP Sergeant Andy Kenyon, this morning at approximately 5:25 a.m. a commercial truck driven by 37-year old Gregory Ralph Muller of Sparks, Nevada was eastbound on Highway 58 near milepost 27.

While negotiating a sharp curve, Mr. Muller was passing a truck pulling two trailers loaded with bales of hay coming westbound. Several bales of hay weighing about 1,000 lbs. each fell off the lead trailer and struck the truck driven by Greg Muller, demolishing the cab of the truck which he was in.

Kenyon says the truck pulling the trailer from which the hay came off did not stop and was last observed heading westbound.

"Information indicates this truck was a white commercial truck hauling two trailers of oversize bales of hay. A witness stated the hay fell from the front of the load on the lead trailer."

Greg Muller was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was driving for Sherwin Williams Company transporting clothing and furniture. His vehicles came to rest in a ditch along the eastbound side of the highway.

OSP troopers from Springfield and Oakridge responded to the scene along with ODOT, and Dexter and Oakridge Fire and EMS.

Highway 58 was closed approximately 4.5 hours while troopers investigated. ODOT cleared several bales of hay from the roadway.