Tragedy on the Interstate: Jejo Haes, 28, Killed in Devastating Crash
It is with profound sadness that we report the tragic death of Jejo Haes, a 28-year-old man from La Grande, Oregon, who was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Wednesday afternoon, August 27, 2025. The fatal collision occurred at approximately 4:22 p.m. on Interstate 84 near milepost 272 in Union County.
According to the Oregon State Police, Jejo was driving a white Ford F-350 pickup truck traveling westbound on the interstate when, for reasons still under investigation, the vehicle veered off the roadway, struck a tree, and plummeted into a creek bed below. Emergency responders arrived quickly, but Jejo Haes was pronounced dead at the scene.
His sudden and violent passing has left his loved ones and the La Grande community in complete shock. A vibrant life was extinguished in seconds, and the loss is both tragic and deeply felt.
A Life Cut Short in a Place of Stillness and Silence
What makes this tragedy even more heartbreaking is the haunting imagery of where it occurred — a once peaceful creek bed, now marked by the remnants of a life that ended too soon. The road, the tree, the silence afterward — all now stand as eerie witnesses to a moment that changed everything.
Jejo was known by those closest to him as adventurous, kind-hearted, and incredibly hardworking. He had a passion for trucks, the outdoors, and living life on his own terms. Friends describe him as the kind of person who’d give you the shirt off his back, and someone who could light up even the darkest room with a joke or smile.
Though his final moments remain a mystery, what’s clear is that the world lost a good soul that day — someone whose journey was far from over. The emptiness left behind is something his friends, family, and the wider community are still trying to process.
Remembering Jejo: Grief, Love, and the Road Ahead
As the OSP continues to investigate the cause of the crash, those who loved Jejo Haes are beginning the long, painful journey of grief. Plans for a memorial service are expected to be announced soon, and in the meantime, the community is encouraged to keep Jejo’s family in their thoughts and prayers.
His death is a heartbreaking reminder of how fragile life truly is. One moment, everything seems fine — and the next, the world changes forever. What remains now is the memory of who he was: a son, a friend, a young man with dreams and a heart full of promise.
May we never forget him. And may his memory guide us toward cherishing every moment, every road traveled, and every life we encounter along the way.
Rest in peace, Jejo Haes. You are gone, but never forgotten.