On Friday, Oct. 23, 2020, I was driving east on State Highway 204 when a large tree 
fell straight across the highway and shattered as I watched.

It was 2 feet in diameter and
 completely blocked the highway. I was able to stop safely. I got out of my car and started 
clearing a path. Other motorists came on the scene and were also stopped. As a group, we were 
able to get the road open, but not clear.

The tree was an old snag, completely dead and rotten. 
Whose property it stood on I do not know, but it long ago should have been removed. I called 
911 and made a report to Oregon State Police dispatcher, so (the Oregon Department of Transportation) people would go to the site
 and clean up the road. I also stopped at (ODOT) offices in La Grande and gave them more details.

I am lucky to be able to write this letter. If you remember, a few years ago, another driver was
 not so lucky on that same highway, and he died.

Rodney Thompson

Pendleton