HERMISTON, Ore. -- An Idaho man was killed when he awoke from sleeping on the passenger side of a pickup truck and grabbed the wheel from his niece for no apparent reason, police said.

OSP photo

The car on its top.

Walter Ross, of Kellogg, died in the rollover accident Monday on Interstate 84 near Hermiston. After suddenly waking up, he yelled his niece’s name, then grabbed the steering wheel, the niece told police.

That caused the pickup to veer to the left, onto the gravel median shoulder.

According to 45-year-old Janie Michaud, also of Kellogg, Ross would not let go of the wheel. He steered hard to the right, which made the pickup rotate as it moved back across both eastbound lanes. The pickup went off the right shoulder, rolled over a fence and came to rest on its top.

Ross was pronounced dead at the scene.

Michaud was treated for minor injuries, police said.