Pudding River Crash Claims Lives of Two Young Men

The two who died are 21-year old Luke Christopher Jackson of Forrest Grove, and 20-year old Tyler Ray Libel of Woodburn.

Photos: Marion County Sheriff

(MT ANGEL, Ore.) - A report of a vehicle off the roadway submerged in the Pudding River, east of Gervais, drew the response of Marion County deputies Monday at approximately 3:40 p.m.

Don Thomson with the Marion County Sheriff's Office, says the crash scene was on the Mt. Angel – Gervais Road NE, approximately 1/4 mile West of Hoodview Lane NE.

Thomson said, "The first deputies on the scene were unable to see the vehicle in the river, but found evidence that it had impacted a large tree and landed in the water.

Witnesses reported the vehicle was traveling eastbound on Mt. Angel – Gervais Road at a speed estimated in excess of 100 miles per hour."

Deputies determined that Pudding River ranged in depth from 10-20' in this area and it was flowing rapidly.

Mt. Angel Fire District units and personnel arrived at the scene, but there was no way to locate the vehicle without entering the water, according to Thomson.

Crash near Mt. Angel, Oregon, 15 March 2010

"The driver and passenger involved in the fatal crash have been identified and their families notified by Chaplain Todd Pynch of the Marion County Sheriff's Office Crisis Chaplaincy Services."

He says the driver was 21-year old Luke Christopher Jackson of Forrest Grove. The passenger was 20-year old Tyler Ray Libel of Woodburn.

The Newburg Fire Department Water Rescue Unit responded to the scene. Two divers. Lt. Mark Harris and Paramedic Justin Berhens, entered the river and located the vehicle submerged in about 12' of water, Thomson said.

"The vehicle was a 1990 Honda Civic, two-door sedan. Visibility in the river was restricted to less than two feet, and it took several hours to secure the vehicle with steel cables and remove it from the river. Mt. Angel – Gervais Road was closed to traffic during the four hour investigation."

He says the vehicle was heavily damaged and contained the bodies of two adult males in the driver and passenger seats. Both were wearing seat belts, but had expired.

Thomson says the Marion County Sheriff's Office Crash team will conduct an investigation to determine the facts surrounding this collision.