Over the weekend, a devastating car accident took place on Highway 30 in Columbia County, resulting in severe injuries and one fatality. According to a report by Oregon State Police, the crash occurred last Saturday, May 17, when a Dodge Nitro collided with a Lexus R330. The driver of the Dodge, identified as 70-year-old Gary E Fowler of Deer Island, was traveling at a high rate of speed and is now facing serious charges, including Manslaughter I and DUI.
The events unfolded near milepost 22 around 9:14 p.m., with the Lexus, driven by 43-year-old Angela Michelle Kornhauser of St. Helens, rolling off the road upon impact and coming to an alarming stop on nearby railroad tracks, Kornhauser sustained serious injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment, while her passenger, identified as 37-year-old Christopher Michael Casillas of Everett, Washington, was tragically ejected and died at the scene. Both occupants of the Lexus were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident, adding to the stark reminders of the importance of such safety measures.
Authorities reported that Fowler suffered minor injuries and after being medically cleared, was taken into custody; he is being held at the Columbia County jail on multiple charges including Assault III and Reckless Endangering. The collision, which officials say was mainly caused by excessive speed and driver impairment, led to a prolonged closure of the highway for approximately seven hours for the on-scene investigation. Support during the incident came from multiple agencies, including the Scappoose Police Department and ODOT.
