18-year-old Found Deceased in middle of Hood River Bridge this morning, March 28

Looking north across the Hood River Bridge to Washington from the toll booth. It is impossible to see the center of the bridge with any clarity. Photo by Cole Goodwin

From Hood River Police with additions by Tom Peterson and Cole Goodwin:

UPDATE: March 28, 2:20 P.M. - An 18-year-old who was found deceased in the center of the Hood River Bridge this morning was seen driving his family’s car north past the breeze by on the Hood River side at about 3:40 a.m., according to witnesses.

Looking at the breeze by on the Hood River Bridge on the Oregon side. Photo by Cole Goodwin.

Shortly thereafter, at around 3:50 a.m., a person driving a car coming from the Washington side of the bridge alerted the single toll booth person on duty about the vehicle stopped in the middle of the bridge.

From CCCNews’ observance, you cannot see the middle of the bridge from the toll booth location.

Cameras cover some areas of the bridge but there are blindspots including the area where the boy was found. 

From earlier reports:
On March 28, 2023, at approximately 4:00 a.m. the Hood River Police responded to a vehicle stopped on the Hood River bridge. 

A passerby reported the vehicle had no lights on and the vehicle appeared to be unoccupied. When Police arrived a short time later to check on the vehicle, they found a male laying in the middle of the bridge. 

The male, identified as River Vanderkloot, 18, of Hood River, was unresponsive.  Hood River Fire was dispatched to the scene to provide medical assistance, but Vanderkloot was pronounced dead at the scene.

The vehicle stopped in the middle of the bridge was owned by Vanderkloot’s family, according to Hood River Police Lieutenant Don Cheli.

When asked if Vanderkloot had been bruised or showed signs of gun wounds, Cheli said he could not comment until after the medical examiner Christopher Van Tilburg had examined the body.

Vanderkloot was taken to Anderson’s Funeral Home in Hood River.

At this time the police do not suspect foul play, but Cheli agreed that the young man died under strange circumstances.