A drive on Interstate 205 turned deadly Thursday near Milwaukie when a Volkswagen Jetta left the southbound lanes, tore through a fence and hit a tree, killing the 25-year-old driver, authorities said.
The driver, identified by police as Sidney Rae Lewis, was pronounced dead at the scene. Troopers from the Oregon State Police responded to the crash in Clackamas County and shut down the southbound stretch of the freeway while investigators went to work.
Crash details
According to The Oregonian/OregonLive, the single-car crash happened Thursday evening on I-205 near Milwaukie when the Jetta veered off the roadway. The car slammed into a fence and then a tree, and emergency crews pronounced Lewis dead at the scene. Investigators have not yet released any suspected cause.
Investigation
Oregon State Police troopers said the crash remains under investigation and have not said whether speed, impairment or a medical issue might have played a role. Oregon State Police troopers were assisted by local fire and rescue crews while the roadway was cleared and evidence was documented.
I-205 safety and recent crashes
Fatal collisions on I-205 and nearby highways have been a recurring problem in the Portland metro area, and transportation officials frequently cite that crash history when prioritizing safety projects. State crash summaries compiled by the Oregon Department of Transportation show Portland-area cities recording dozens of serious crashes every year, numbers that guide decisions on improvements to ramps and interchanges.
What officials are asking
Investigators are asking anyone who saw the crash or who may have dash-camera video from that stretch of I-205 to contact the Oregon State Police, The Oregonian/OregonLive reports. Troopers are urging witnesses to share any footage or details that could help them piece together what happened.
