A woman from Hillsboro lost her life in a powerful, multi-vehicle crash caused by an out-of-control pickup truck that was towing a large trailer along Tualatin Valley Highway in Aloha. Family and friends of the 20-year-old alumnus of Century High School are in mourning, trying to understand how she could be so unfortunate as to be a passenger in the car that was struck squarely by the GMC pickup. Investigators said the truck didn’t stop and was going fast enough near a Chevron station to drive over cars and flip end over end. A police photo of the crash aftermath shows the truck laying on its roof.
According to information released by the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, at least seven other people were injured and transported to area hospitals. “There were six other vehicles, several with extensive damage, strewn within a 150 foot area,’’ the report said. “Deputies determined that the GMC pickup…failed to brake for stopped traffic.’’ The report also said the pickup traveling at a high rate of speed.
Help Police Understand the Crash
The way Cassandra lived her life has prompted a large public outpouring of admiration, including waves of tearful Facebook remembrances. Her tragedy unfolded without notice as the 1995 Honda Civic she was riding in was sitting in traffic, waiting at a stoplight. The car she was in was struck from behind. Reportedly, it was one of the first vehicles that the truck crashed into early on the evening of Sept. 1, 2015, according to information from the Sheriff’s Department. There were no children injured in the multi-vehicle accident. Witnesses told police the truck was driving erratically prior to the collisions. If you witnessed the truck prior to the crash or have information about the driver that investigators should know, please call the Sheriff’s Office at 503-629-0111.