BORING, Ore. – A deadly week unfolded along Oregon Route 212 in Boring, where two separate crashes within just 48 hours claimed three lives, injured others, and even caused a building to collapse.
Tuesday Morning Crash Brings Down Building
The most recent crash happened shortly after 6 a.m. Tuesday in the 28000 block of Southeast Oregon 212, according to the Clackamas County Fire Department.
Investigators said a car veered off the roadway and slammed into a brick building, causing part of the structure to collapse. The roof caved in on the car, trapping the driver inside.
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Firefighters stabilized the structure with supports to prevent further collapse while working to free the victim. Despite rescue efforts, the driver died while being transported to a hospital, officials confirmed.
Another person inside the building at the time was unharmed. Officials did not immediately release the driver’s identity, but photos from the scene revealed the damaged business was the Timber Pub & Grub, a longtime local establishment.
Fatal Sunday Crash Kills Two Young Adults
Just two days earlier, tragedy struck less than a mile away. Around 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oregon State Police said an eastbound Dodge Caliber left the road and plowed into iCandy Lash Co., a local salon.
The car caught fire briefly following impact. The collision killed both the driver, identified as 21-year-old Austin Gaberiel Roberts, and his passenger, 19-year-old Taylor Renee Wonderly.
Two employees inside the shop—22-year-old Tiana Marie Owen and 24-year-old Gabriela Lorene Shirley—suffered serious injuries. They were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Community Shaken by Back-to-Back Crashes
The rapid succession of deadly incidents has rattled the Boring community, a small town east of Portland. Businesses hit by the crashes are neighborhood fixtures, now left heavily damaged and closed until repairs can be made.
Locals say the stretch of Oregon 212 where the crashes occurred has long been a concern due to traffic speed and limited visibility in some areas.
“It’s heartbreaking,” one resident told reporters. “Two crashes in two days, people killed, businesses destroyed—this community is going to feel this for a long time.”
Investigations Underway
Authorities are continuing to investigate both incidents to determine what led the vehicles to veer off the highway. It is not yet clear whether speed, impairment, or road conditions played a role in either crash.
Oregon State Police are leading the investigation into Sunday’s double fatality, while Clackamas County officials and fire crews are handling Tuesday’s building collapse crash.
Officials emphasized that more details, including the identity of the driver killed in the second incident, will be released once next of kin are notified.
Remembering the Victims
Friends and family have already begun posting tributes online for Roberts and Wonderly, remembering them as kind, outgoing, and full of potential.
Community members are also rallying around the injured salon employees, with support efforts expected to follow as they recover from their injuries.
A Week of Loss
Two businesses damaged, three lives lost, and others left with serious injuries—within just 48 hours on the same short stretch of road. For Boring residents, the events serve as a grim reminder of how quickly tragedy can strike.
Both crashes remain active investigations. Authorities are asking anyone with information or witnesses to contact Oregon State Police.
