Men sustain only minor injuries after driving off cliff

Two Baker City men escaped with only minor injuries when the pickup truck in which they were riding went off a cliff near Mason Dam and rolled a third of the way down the embankment.

The driver, William R. Westmoreland, 21, was cited on a charge of reckless driving and furnishing alcohol to a minor. His passenger, 19-year-old Trevor Simmons was cited on charges of minor in possession of alcohol and failure of a witness to report a crash, according to an Oregon State Police report.

The vehicle drove over a guardrail and off the cliff, rolling several times before coming to rest on its top.

MacManiman said other people traveling in the area came upon the crash shortly after it happened and climbed down to the overturned pickup. The passers-by helped Westmoreland and Simmons out of the pickup and helped them make their way back to the road.

Both men had minor injuries that did not require hospital treatment, MacManiman said. Police had no information about whether seat belts were in use.

The investigation is continuing.