UPDATE: FATAL BICYCLE-INVOLVED HIT & RUN CRASH - HIGHWAY 30 WEST OF RAINIER IN COLUMBIA COUNTY
News Release from Oregon State Police
Posted on FlashAlert: August 30th, 2014 8:43 PM
Oregon State Police (OSP), with the assistance of Columbia County Sheriff's Office and Rainier Police Department, are investigating a Saturday afternoon fatal hit and run crash along Highway 30 just west of Rainier in which a bicyclist was killed. The name of the driver arrested by OSP is released in this update but victim's name won't be released until Sunday.
On August 30, 2014 at approximately 2:56 p.m., a report was received of a hit & run crash in which a pickup struck a bicycle along the westbound lanes of Highway 30 near milepost 50 just west of Rainier. A few minutes later the suspect vehicle was stopped by an OSP trooper near milepost 55 and the driver detained.
Emergency responders arriving on scene of where the bicyclist was reportedly struck confirmed the bicycle rider was deceased after coming to rest off the highway down an embankment.
The driver is identified as Kristopher Lee Woodruff, age 34, from Vernonia. He was lodged in Columbia County Jail for Manslaughter in the First Degree, Felony Hit & Run, and a misdemeanor warrant out of Washington County for Fail to Appear.
Initial investigation indicates Woodruff was driving westbound and became distracted while looking at a text message on his phone. His vehicle traveled onto the shoulder where it struck the adult male bicyclist. Woodruff, who does not have a valid license, continued driving without stopping at the scene.
The Columbia County District Attorney's Office was notified and is assisting with the investigation.
The westbound lane was blocked during scene investigation.
No other information expected to be released tonight. No photographs for this release.
### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
On August 30, 2014 at approximately 2:56 p.m., a report was received of a hit & run crash in which a pickup struck a bicycle along the westbound lanes of Highway 30 near milepost 50 just west of Rainier. A few minutes later the suspect vehicle was stopped by an OSP trooper near milepost 55 and the driver detained.
Emergency responders arriving on scene of where the bicyclist was reportedly struck confirmed the bicycle rider was deceased after coming to rest off the highway down an embankment.
The driver is identified as Kristopher Lee Woodruff, age 34, from Vernonia. He was lodged in Columbia County Jail for Manslaughter in the First Degree, Felony Hit & Run, and a misdemeanor warrant out of Washington County for Fail to Appear.
Initial investigation indicates Woodruff was driving westbound and became distracted while looking at a text message on his phone. His vehicle traveled onto the shoulder where it struck the adult male bicyclist. Woodruff, who does not have a valid license, continued driving without stopping at the scene.
The Columbia County District Attorney's Office was notified and is assisting with the investigation.
The westbound lane was blocked during scene investigation.
No other information expected to be released tonight. No photographs for this release.
### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
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