Two People Die in Crash on Highway 224 East of Estacada

Police say the car was eastbound on Highway 224 negotiating a left curve when it lost control and drove off the right shoulder.

Photo shows care barely discernible through the brush where it came to rest: Oregon State Police

(ESTACADA, Ore.) - Two people died and one was seriously injured early Sunday morning in a single vehicle crash on Highway 224 about thirty miles east of Estacada, Oregon State Police say.

OSP Sergeant Fred Testa says that around 5:53 AM, a report was received of a single vehicle crash on Highway 224 in the Ripplebrook area near milepost 49. OSP, Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, Estacada Fire Department, and U.S. Forest Service personnel responded to the scene, confirming two people were dead and another seriously injured.

He says the preliminary investigation indicates a motorist came upon the scene of a tree across the highway and upon checking the situation spotted a car down an embankment.

A 1999 Honda Civic two-door driven by 24-year old Vladimir V. Romashchenke of Vancouver, Washington, was eastbound on Highway 224 negotiating a left curve when it lost control and drove off the right shoulder, Testa said.

"As the car traveled down an embankment it struck a tree causing the tree to fall onto the highway. The car continued down the embankment and came to a stop on its passenger side amongst other trees and brush."

Mr. Romashchenke and right front male passenger, 19-year old Vitaliy Maksimenko, were pronounced deceased at the scene. Rear passenger, 19-year old Mikhail Tihohod, was seriously injured investigators said. He was transported by ambulance to Oregon Health Sciences University. All three occupants are from Vancouver, Washington.

OSP troopers from the Portland Area Command office are continuing the investigation. Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, Estacada Fire Department, ODOT, and U.S. Forest Service assisted at the scene.