A rental truck bearing Washington plates sits on the railroad tracks near North Powder on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. The truck crashed off Interstate 84 and the driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. It was unclear what caused the crash, according to police.

NORTH POWDER — The driver of a full-sized Dodge pickup pulling a camper died in a single-vehicle accident on the south edge of North Powder early Wednesday, Dec. 15.

The driver, Robert Miller, 54, of Shelton, Washington, was killed when the pickup he was driving went off the left westbound lane of Interstate 84 and down an embankment. The pickup and the camper came to rest on Union Pacific Railroad tracks. The accident was reported at 6:29 a.m. to the Baker County 911 dispatch center.

According to Oregon State Police Sgt. Dave Aydelotte, Shelton was deceased by the time first responders arrived. Shelton not ejected from his truck, said Sr. Trooper Greg Retherford.

Shelton had no passengers. 

A Life Flight helicopter was dispatched to the crash but turned around immediately after reaching North Powder because Shelton did not survive the crash.

“It flew in and circled the area but it did not set down,’’ Retherford said.

In addition to OSP, those responding to the accident included the La Grande Fire Department, the Union County Sheriff’s Office and Union Pacific Railroad. Retherford said a La Grande Fire Department vehicle got stuck on the railroad tracks while a train was coming toward it about a quarter mile west of the accident scene. Fortunately, the railroad was contacted and the train, which was moving slowly, was able to stop with plenty of distance to spare but not before causing some concern.

“It was a little nerve wracking for a while,’’ Retherford said.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation. According to Aydelotte, Oregon requires a local medical examiner to investigate the cause and manner of death when the death is unattended.

The accident blocked both active rail lines until approximately 8:45 a.m., when one of the lines was cleared. The crash did not close I-84 and no other vehicles were involved.