Deputies ID driver killed by falling tree on Columbia River Hwy
Photo: Multnomah County Sheriff's Office
Photo: Multnomah County Sheriff's Office
Photo: Multnomah County Sheriff's Office
JUNE 29, 2015
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, OR (KPTV) -
A 27-year-old Washington man was killed when a falling tree hit his car on the Historic Columbia River Highway just east of Latourell Falls.
Emergency crews responded to the scene at 2:55 p.m. Sunday.
Investigators said a tree fell from a hill on the east side of the road. A branch of the tree hit the top of the passing eastbound car, a 2001 Saturn.
The car continued eastbound another 500 feet before running off the side of the road and coming to a stop on the embankment.
The driver, identified Monday as 27-year-old Jorge Roman of Covington, WA, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two women in the car, Rosalba Ortega, 57, and Rosa Ortega, 20, both of Vancouver, were taken to the hospital with injuries described as non-life threatening.
A 1-year-old child in a car seat in the back of the car was not hurt, according to police.
The Historic Columbia River Highway was closed between Latourell Falls and Alex Barre Road for several hours while investigators were at the scene. The Vehicular Crimes Team responded to conduct the investigation.
Park rangers removed an additional tree from the hillside prior to reopening the road.