HR motorcycle rider killed in head-on crash; Other driver arrested on suspicion of DUI, Manslaughter
A Hood River man was killed Wednesday night on Highway 281 after an alleged DUI driver crossed into oncoming traffic, striking his motorcycle head-on. The crash closed the highway for five hours during investigation.
From Oregon State Police:
Hood River, Ore., Oct. 17, 2025 — A Hood River man was killed Wednesday night in a three-vehicle crash on Highway 281 after an alleged DUI driver attempted to pass in a no-passing zone, according to Oregon State Police.
Troopers said the crash occurred around 9:23 p.m. near milepost 7, when a southbound Subaru Impreza, driven by Pedro Jonathan Flores-Flores, 26, of Hood River, attempted to pass a southbound Toyota Corolla driven by Jesus Esquivel Martinez, 38, of Hood River. The Subaru struck a northbound Honda VT750 motorcycle, operated by Phillip Mickey Himes, 37, of Hood River, head-on.
Himes was pronounced dead at the scene. Both Flores-Flores and Esquivel Martinez were reportedly uninjured.
Flores-Flores was arrested on charges of DUII, reckless driving, two counts of reckless endangering, and first-degree manslaughter.
Highway 281 was closed for roughly five hours during the investigation. The Oregon State Police were assisted at the scene by the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, Hood River Police Department, Wy’east Fire, and ODOT.
The crash remains under investigation.
About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU)
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.
DNA link identifies woman in 49-year-old missing person case
Nearly five decades after skeletal remains were discovered near Wolf Creek in Linn County, authorities have confirmed the young woman’s identity
Forensic Aproximation of Marion McWhorter who went missing in 1974.
“Forensic genetic genealogy allowed us not only to assist Oregon law enforcement and medicolegal personnel in identifying a woman who likely did not go missing voluntarily, but it also helped provide her family with answers,” said State Forensic Anthropologist Hailey Collord-Stalder.
LINN COUNTY, Ore., Sept. 16, 2025 — Nearly five decades after skeletal remains were discovered near Wolf Creek in Linn County, authorities have confirmed the young woman’s identity as Marion Vinetta Nagle McWhorter, who disappeared in 1974 at the age of 21.
McWhorter’s remains were first found in July 1976 by a moss hunter, who came across a skull and alerted law enforcement. Additional remains and personal items — including a leather coat, beaded belt, metal rings, jeans, and a clog-style shoe — were later recovered. But for 49 years, her name remained a mystery despite repeated attempts at identification.
Advances in forensic genetic genealogy finally provided the breakthrough. In 2020, Oregon State Police partnered with Parabon NanoLabs to build a detailed genetic profile, which predicted McWhorter’s physical characteristics and ancestry.
A breakthrough in the case occurred in April 2025, when someone spontaneously uploaded their genetic profile to the Family Tree DNA database, a genetic testing company that offers autosomal DNA, Y-DNA, and mitochondrial DNA tests to help users trace their ancestry and connect with relatives. This provided genealogists with a much closer look into the unidentified woman’s family tree.
Forensic scientists followed genetic and other leads and ultimately determined that McWhorter was likely the unidentified young woman. Genealogists found that McWhorter had one surviving family member, a younger sister living in the Seattle area. A detective with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office contacted the sister, who provided an oral swab for DNA comparison and shared the story of her long-lost older sister.
“Forensic genetic genealogy allowed us not only to assist Oregon law enforcement and medicolegal personnel in identifying a woman who likely did not go missing voluntarily, but it also helped provide her family with answers,” said State Forensic Anthropologist Hailey Collord-Stalder.
McWhorter, born Jan. 7, 1953, had last been seen at a Tigard shopping mall in 1974. For decades, her family had no answers. Authorities say the Linn County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to review evidence to determine, if possible, the circumstances of her death.
The identification highlights both the persistence of Oregon investigators and the power of genetic genealogy to close long-standing cold cases. For McWhorter’s family, it brings long-awaited closure.
Wheat Truck wrecks in Gilliam County; three-vehicle crash on Hwy. 97 on Dec. 3
Wheat Truck wrecks in Gilliam County; three-vehicle crash on Hwy. 97 on Dec. 3
TD Sex offender eludes police after hitting utility pole near Cascade Locks
“The Trooper was able to see the passenger and identified him as the subject who had the warrant. The Trooper activated his emergency lights, and the vehicle rapidly accelerated in reverse. While the truck turned around, it backed into a utility pole and continued down the access road at a high rate of speed.”
The Dalles, Ore., Nov. 18, 2024 — Oregon State Police are still looking for a man from The Dalles after Troopers tried to arrest him near Cascade Locks and he backed into a utility pole before speeding away on Sunday, Nov. 17.
Waylon Willie Looney, 38, of The Dalles who is wanted for failing to comply with his sex offender requirements, is wanted on a felony warrant, according to the Oregon State Police Log.
Troopers who were tracking Looney on foot reported locating him at a trailer at Old Columbia River Highway and Wa Na Pa Street at around 7 a.m.
“Troopers were on foot and observed a white Ford pickup leaving the trailer where the suspect was known to be staying at. As the vehicle was leaving on the access road the driver observed a marked patrol vehicle at the top in the parking lot and started to back down the road,” the report states.
“The Trooper was able to see the passenger and identified him as the subject who had the warrant. The Trooper activated his emergency lights, and the vehicle rapidly accelerated in reverse. While the truck turned around, it backed into a utility pole and continued down the access road at a high rate of speed.”
Troopers did not pursue the vehicle.
The vehicle was later located partially blocking the road and both the driver and passenger had fled on foot. The vehicle was towed by Rivers Edge Towing with a hold placed on the vehicle until the driver can be identified.
“There is probable cause to arrest the driver once identified for felony elude vehicle, reckless driving, fail to perform duties of a driver, elude on foot and hindering prosecution,” the log stated.
Stolen Fish & Wildlife Camera reveals alleged illegal fish takes on Eagle Creek
But what appears to be the most egregious case was that of an alleged illegal fish take on Eagle Creek near the Columbia River which was verified after police located a stolen Fish & Wildlife camera taken from the area on Sept. 26, according to the Oregon State Police log.
Photo courtesy of Oregon State Police
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., Nov. 4, 2024 — It was a rough weekend for wildlife as the Oregon State Police stopped multiple illegal takes including 8 waterfowl, 4 trout and 5 steelhead, several Salmon and even responded to a minivan that struck a deer on Interstate 84.
But what appears to be the most egregious case was that of an alleged illegal fish take on Eagle Creek near the Columbia River which was verified after police located a stolen Fish & Wildlife camera taken from the area on Sept. 26, according to the Oregon State Police log.
“The last GPS location of the stolen camera led to a residence in the Portland area. The investigation then led to digital pictures and video evidence being provided of a male subject removing the cable-locked camera from a tree,” the report says.
“Additional video evidence shows the subject unlawfully take two Salmon and or Steelhead from the mouth of Eagle Creek. The subject is not a licensed angler within Oregon. One video recording captured the same subject snagging and then killing what appeared to be a Steelhead. Witness statements reported the same subject unlawfully took five or six Salmon and or Steelhead during this incident in total. The subject who stole the camera and unlawfully took the fish is avoiding law enforcement contact and not returning calls,” the report states.
Sylvestr Fortuna, 38, of Portland was arrested acccording to the report and Daniel Herman, 28, of Vancouver is a suspect in the case
Charges of second-degree theft, take/ possession of foul-hooked fish, fishing without a license, fishing for salmon without a harvest tag and fishing without a North Columbia River endorsement have been forwarded to the Multnomah County District Attorney.
Trooper cites 29-year-old for shooting decoy in White River Unit
Two criminal citations were ultimately issued for Take/Poss. of Buck Deer - Wildlife Enforcement Decoy. Closed season, and Hunting with the Aid of a Motor Vehicle. An additional violation citation was issued for an open container of alcohol.
The Dalles, Ore., Oct. 28, 2024 — Fish and Wildlife Troopers with the Oregon State Police ran a Buck Deer operation in the White River Unit using a decoy.
During the operation, a vehicle stopped at the set on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 9:19 a.m.
The driver of the vehicle shot the “Wildlife Enforcement Decoy” while sitting in his driver’s seat and shooting out the passenger window, according to the OSP report.
A senior Fish and Wildlife Trooper initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and conducted an investigation. Two criminal citations were ultimately issued for Take/Poss. of Buck Deer - Wildlife Enforcement Decoy. Closed season, and Hunting with the Aid of a Motor Vehicle. An additional violation citation was issued for an open container of alcohol.
A small caliber rifle was seized as evidence.
Oregon State Police provide Fish and Wildlife enforcement for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Map of the White River Unit from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Hello, World!
