Police Investigate Death North of Woodburn

The man's wife did her best to control the pickup which eventually impacted a freeway guardrail.

Salem-News.com

(WOODBURN) - A North Plains area man died Sunday afternoon from an apparent heart attack he suffered while driving southbound on Interstate 5 about five miles north of Woodburn.

Police say the man died at Meridian Park Hospital over an hour after the incident occurred.

Just after 2:00 PM Sunday, 82-year old George Rumpakis of North Plains, was driving his Chevrolet southbound on Interstate 5 near milepost 276 when, according to witnesses, the pickup drove off the freeway and along grass bordering the right side of the highway lanes.

After traveling about 1/4 mile, it came back onto the freeway and struck a guardrail. Mr. Rumpakis' 68-year old wife tried to keep control of the pickup until it came to a stop.

Woodburn Fire Department personnel responded and performed CPR at the scene, until the man was transported to Meridian Park Hospital where he died about 3:16 PM.

The Clackamas County Medical Examiner's Office is assisting in the investigation. No post exam is planned because doctors are confident the cause of death is by heart attack.

Oregon State Police troopers from the Salem Area Command office are completing the investigation. ODOT also assisted at the scene.