Crash, Gales Creek, rippling waters

Fatal crash closes Gales Creek Road near David Hill Road

Emergency crews and law enforcement prepare a stretcher to transport an injured patient from their vehicle. Photo: Chas Hundley

GALES CREEK – At least two people were injured and one person was killed in a two vehicle crash on Gales Creek Road near David Hill Road around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.

[Update: As of 4:15 pm, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said the road had reopened]

One vehicle, driven by a male with a female passenger, may have slipped on the wet road driving west on Gales Creek Road. It appears to have veered into the oncoming lane of traffic, where it was struck by another vehicle, according to deputy Brian van Kleef, a public information officer with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

That vehicle crashed off an embankment onto county-owned Rippling Waters property.

The female passenger died at the scene, with the drivers of both vehicles transported from the scene by medical personnel.

 The Washington County Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team (CART) was on scene to investigate the crash, which will result in a 2-4 hour road closure as of 1 p.m.

Crews on scene worked to remove the top of one vehicle, which had two people — the driver and the deceased female passenger —trapped inside.

Lifeflight was called to the scene, with a host of other regional emergency and law enforcement agencies present, including Forest Grove Fire & Rescue, Banks Fire District, Forest Grove Police, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and Metro West Ambulance.

This is a developing story, more information will be added as it becomes known.

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Chas Hundley is the editor of the Gales Creek Journal and sister news publications the Banks Post and the Salmonberry Magazine. He grew up in Gales Creek and has a cat.

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