Crash on Highway 99W leaves One Dead

The Sherwood Gazette, Dec 3, 2009

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A 23-year-old Portland woman was killed Dec. 2 after pulling her vehicle into the path of oncoming traffic on southbound Highway 99W at Bell Road.

Washington County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to the scene of the accident at 4:15 p.m. Investigators determined that Grace C. Throckmorton had driven her 1999 four-door Honda Accord east on SW Bell Road and stopped at Highway 99W before attempting to cross the highway to get to the northbound lanes.

Deputies report that Throckmorton pulled into the path of an oncoming 1999 Jeep Cherokee driven by 27-year-old Michael D. Backman of Dayton. Backman didn’t have time to brake and he hit Throckmorton’s vehicle directly in the driver side door.

After they collided the vehicles both spun and came to rest on the guardrail closest to the center median, according to Dave Thompson, pubic information officer for the sheriff’s department. Throckmorton was wearing her seatbelt when she was struck but was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no passengers in either vehicle and alcohol does not appear to be a factor in this crash.

Backman was transported to Providence Newberg Medical Center with minor injuries.

The Washington County Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team responded to the scene to investigate the crash and southbound Highway 99W was closed for several hours during the investigation.

The Oregon State Police assisted Sheriff’s Deputies with the crash.

No charges or citations are expected to be issued in this case.