A Sheridan man, who was lying in the middle of the roadway for unknown reasons, was struck by a vehicle and killed in an early morning crash on Highway 212 near Boring.
According to the preliminary investigation by Oregon State Police, a black Ford Fusion driven by Jacob Aaron Paige, 32, of Happy Valley, was westbound on 212 at about 1 a.m., when he spotted the pedestrian, 55-year-old Christopher Wendell Niiranen, lying in the westbound lane of travel.
Paige reportedly swerved in an attempt to avoid hitting Niiranen but was unsuccessful, and the pedestrian was fatally struck. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.
Police told KATU News that they are investigating why Niiranen was lying in the roadway and whether he may have already been dead before being struck by the car.
Highway 212 was closed for approximately two hours while troopers investigated the scene. Dark clothing and roadway lighting are believed to have contributed to the crash.
Oregon State Police was assisted by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Clackamas Fire, the Clackamas County Medical Examiner and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
