An apparent car crash led to the death of a 49-year-old man in Hermiston.

On Sunday, Nov. 13, Hermiston Police Department officers arrived at a construction site at West Ridgeway Avenue and North First Place. They discovered a black sedan on its side at the bottom of a large pit, according to Jason Edmiston, HPD chief.

The airbags had all been deployed, according to Edmiston, making it impossible to see inside the car. After officers and paramedics secured the vehicle and gained entry, they found the body of Hermiston resident Shawn Rice inside the car.

“Further investigation leads us to believe the crash may have occurred the previous night between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m., Edmiston said. “This is based on a phone call Mr. Rice was having with a friend before the conversation abruptly ended. We also suspect alcohol may be a contributing factor for this crash based on items located in the vehicle.”

The chief said that the next of kin were located and notified of Rice’s death.

Hermiston Assistant City Manager Mark Morgan provided additional details.

Morgan said the car had been traveling south from North First Place in the direction of West Hermiston Avenue when it entered the pit. He said signs were on the street to warn drivers of construction work.

“The contractor that was working on it, they had a lot of signage, with candlesticks, road closed signs and all those types of things,” Morgan said. “It sounds as though alcohol may have been a factor in his failure to recognize the signage.”

The pit, Morgan said, was created as part of a sewer project.

On Nov. 14, the car was gone. Signs were on the street, though, and workers were operating heavy equipment around the pit. The workers at the site said the equipment was parked off the road at the time of the crash.

Morgan said he doesn’t have much other information about the incident, and Oregon State Police are in the midst of an investigation.

State police confirmed its investigators have studied the scene, but a report was not ready.

Chief Edmiston stated that an autopsy would “determine cause of death and may provide additional information.”