An Oregon City High School students was killed dead and three more teens were injured after police say they collided with a black truck Friday on South New Era Road near Canby.
According to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, four teenagers, age 15 or 16, were riding in a silver sedan when the driver crossed the center line and veered into the oncoming lane just before noon.
Deputies and Canby Fire crews responded to the scene in the 10000 block of South New Era Road near Highway 99E and the Canby Regency mobile home park. The incident occurred in unincorporated Clackamas County north of town.
A 16-year-old female passenger died at the scene, and the driver and two other passengers from the sedan were taken to a local hospital. Authorities did not specify the severity of their injuries, and their current status is unknown.
The 63-year-old driver of the truck was also taken to the hospital as a precaution, deputies said.
The Clackamas County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Criminal Reconstruction and Forensic Technicians (CRAFT) team also responded to document the scene. The Clackamas County Transportation Maintenance Division assisted with traffic control.
None of the people involved were identified by police, but public social media posts from family and friends and online fundraisers confirmed the victim was Oregon City High School student Bianca Ceperich. She had seven brothers and sisters.
“Bianca lived her life fully with tremendous passion and wasn’t afraid of death,” her father, Russ Ceperich, wrote. “She shared her idea of her funeral with her family, with specific details as if she knew her life was coming to an end. God had a special purpose for her and she touched the lives of everyone she met.”
Principal Carey Wilhelm also identified Ceperich in an email to the school community. Students wore purple Monday in honor of Ceperich.
“We are devastated to learn of her death,” Wilhelm said in his email to students, staff and community members. “Our hearts go out to their families and friends, and our thoughts are with those who were involved.”
Wilhelm said the school had extra counselors on hand this week for both students and staff.
Donations to her memory and to support the family with funeral and burial expenses are available online here and here.
Asked Monday if excessive speed was a factor in the crash, Clackamas County Deputy and PIO John Wildhaber said the case was still under active investigation and no further information could be released at this time.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 503-723-4949 or by using the online email form. Reference case no. 22-011431.
