An Ontario man at the center of a long effort to clean up an Alameda Drive property was killed Sunday night, struck while walking on the state highway east of Vale, according to Oregon State Police.
Cory Easom, 52, was hit by a west-bound van at just before 10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, about seven miles east of Vale on U.S. Highway 20. State police said in a statement that he was in the roadway when he was struck. The van driver was uninjured.
Easom for years lived in the Alameda Drive home owned by his parents across from Alameda Elementary School. Police repeatedly responded to the property for fights, fires and other nuisances before his Easom’s brother arranged to get mental health care earlier this year.
The Malheur County Sheriff’s Office in April organized a crew to clear out garbage, abandoned vehicles and other debris. The property was subsequently sold and the house is undergoing restoration.
According to Malheur County Circuit Court records, co-guardians had tried without success to arrange residential treatment for Easom. One co-guardian resigned in August over concerns about Easom.
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