RUFUS, Ore. - Oregon State Police made a public appeal for tips after an elk hunter returning home to Veneta from Eastern Oregon was found unresponsive with severe head trauma behind the wheel of his pickup parked at the bottom of an Interstate 84 off-ramp.

Troopers responded just before noon Saturday to a 911 call requesting "a welfare check of a subject lying face down in the gravel in front of his silver 2015 Ford F350 crew cab pulling his 2019 Keystone Cougar travel trailer."

State police said "troopers found a truck and trailer matching that description on I-84 exit 109 westbound parked at the bottom of the off-ramp. OSP Troopers made contact with the driver, who was now behind the wheel of the truck and unresponsive."

Police identified the driver as 38-year-old Derek Martell.

Police said Martell had severe head trauma and was flown to a hospital for treatment.

State police said Martell was returning home to Veneta from an elk hunting trip in Eastern Oregon with friends.

The investigation revealed "that Derek spoke to his wife at 11:30 a.m. and there were no reported issues. The 911 call was received 28 minutes later. Troopers located Derek at 12:26 p.m. and requested medics a minute later."

State police ask anyone who was traveling from Arlington to Rufus during that time of day or anyone with information regarding the incident to contact Oregon State Police Dispatch at 1-800-442-2068 or *OSP from your mobile reference case # SP21274660.