Truck Driver Suffers Cardiac Arrest On Pacific Highway, Hits SUV

DUNDEE, OR — A Washington longhauler unintentionally caused a two-vehicle crash on Pacific Highway 99W Wednesday when he went into cardiac arrest while traveling south of Dundee in Yamhill County.

The truck driver, 46-year-old Dwayne Kemp of Tacoma, was later pronounced deceased by medical staff at Providence Hospital in Newberg. He is survived by two teenage sons.

Kemp, a U.S. Army veteran, was heading southbound out of Dundee just after 6:30 a.m. Feb. 7 when near milepost 28 he went into cardiac arrest, veering his 2014 Freightliner semi-truck across the grassy median and into the northbound lanes, according to Oregon State Police.

Heading north toward Dundee was a 2005 Hyundai SUV reportedly occupied by McMinnville residents Tarin Bickford, 49, Emma Allen, 21, and an unnamed juvenile.

Colliding head on, both the Freightliner and Hyundai came to rest in an empty field on the northbound side of the highway. The Hyundai's occupants were taken to Willamette Valley Medical Center and treated for only minor injuries, police officials said.

All individuals involved were wearing their safety belts at the time of the collision.

Images via Oregon State Police