A dark stretch of Highway 30 just south of Scappoose turned deadly Friday evening when an Eagle Creek woman was hit and killed while trying to cross the road, shutting down the highway as emergency crews and investigators moved in. Oregon State Police troopers are leading the investigation into the fatal collision on the largely unlit state route.
Authorities have identified the victim as 69-year-old Sherri Lynn Shaver of Eagle Creek. Investigators say she was struck in the eastbound lanes by a white Dodge Ram 2500 driven by 22-year-old Ethan Goss of St. Helens, who was not hurt in the crash, according to details released by Oregon State Police and reported by KATU.
The impact happened near milepost 19 on Highway 30, just south of Scappoose by the Shell gas station. The highway was closed for roughly three hours while troopers documented the scene and cleared the roadway, according to the Columbia County Spotlight.
What Oregon State Police Said
In a written statement, Oregon State Police said "the pedestrian was wearing dark clothing in an unlit area of the highway" and that the crash remains under active investigation, as reported by KATU. Investigators have said the combination of dark clothing and a poorly lit stretch of road made visibility a challenge at the time of the collision, according to KPTV. Troopers have not yet released further information about other possible contributing factors while they continue to gather evidence.
Highway 30 Safety In Context
The corridor of Highway 30 that cuts through Columbia County has seen its share of serious crashes in recent years. In 2019, a man riding a bicycle was killed in a collision with a truck driver near Scappoose, a case that underscored how vulnerable people on bikes and on foot can be along the highway, as reported by BikePortland. Regional safety efforts, including the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s Vision Zero program, track pedestrian deaths and push for street design changes aimed at cutting down on fatal crashes across the metro area, per Portland Bureau of Transportation.
Oregon State Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash or who has relevant video or other information to contact the agency, according to KPTV. We have requested additional comment from OSP and will update this story as new details are released.
