LA GRANDE — Oregon State Police identified the victim of a fatal crash Monday, Nov. 15, that shut down more than 40 miles of Interstate 84 in Eastern Oregon.

OSP at about 4:48 a.m. responded to a crash on I-84 at about milepost 259 just west of La Grande. According to state police, Eric Thomas, 51, of St. Louis, Missouri, was driving a semitrailer east on the freeway when he failed to negotiate a curve between the Oregon Department of Transportation weigh station, about 2 miles west of La Grande, and Exit 259. The trailer flipped, causing the semi to flip as well and eject Thomas, according to Oregon State Police Sgt. Grant Jackson.

State police also reported Thomas died at the scene.

Jackson said the victim was not wearing a seatbelt and there were no passengers in the semi. Jackson said excessive speed may have been a factor in the crash.

The fatal accident forced the closure of the eastbound lanes of traffic on Interstate 84 between La Grande and Exit 216, 6 miles east of Pendleton. The lanes remained closed until about 1:20 p.m.

Diesel fuel from the semi involved leaked during the crash. A hazmat crew called in from Baker City to clean up the fuel.

In addition to the OSP, the La Grande Fire Department and the Oregon Department Transportation responded to the crash.