Snowboarders - Double Fatality Buzz Kill!!

WindLogik · Since 09 Feb 2009 95 Posts Hood River

Everyone,

There was a terrible double-fatality crash on hwy 35 north of Meadows about five miles (milepost 78 ). My friends and I were in one of the first cars to pass. We called the authorities and tried to slow down the oncoming traffic. Gruesome, horrific carnage...

PLEASE drive safe up to the mountain. No roadies or other effed up irresponsible BS, please. Two people are dead today because of a little ice on a corner.

http://www.hoodrivernews.com/ns/news-headlines/8518/fatal-crash-closes-hwy-35-near-mt-hood-meadows

Crying or Very sad

Be safe and have fun.

forrest · Sat Jan 07, 12 12:44 pm

http://www.kgw.com/news/local/2-dead-in-in-wreck-near-Mt-Hood-Meadows-136830763.html

Speed and Ice.

BKA · Since 19 May 2011 43 Posts Harrison

Thats sad to hear. Why the heck was the driver of the jeep on the road without a licence? I am sure that will come up in court because if he wasnt on the road that day these two may still have been alive.

holly · Since 09 Jul 2006 440 Posts Hood River Obsessed

I know one of the guys that passed away so heart breaking..

WindLogik · Since 09 Feb 2009 95 Posts Hood River

They were young with bright futures... Very tragic and sad. Says they were in a Subaru. Even a so called safe car won't save you in a situation like that.

WINDUDE · Since 10 Jun 2010 558 Posts GORGE! Addicted

slow down and enjoy the scenery.

forrest · Sun Jan 08, 12 10:35 am

This is really sad.

Holly, did the dude you know work at Google?

Kraemer · Since 24 Apr 2006 1736 Posts Sky Pilot Unicorn Captain

That sucks. My heart goes out to those kids, or anyone
ending up dead because they wanted to slay the mountain,

Says they drifted into the oncoming lane due to ice; shit.

Snow SPECIFIC tires like Blizzaks-- Really REALLY help.
I Don't drive on the mountain without them.

My condolences to their families and friends.

Scriffler · Since 03 Jul 2005 581 Posts LYLE Addicted

Condolences to all the families and friends. Remember that driving is the most dangerous thing we all do and is not to be taken lightly.

Blazeheliski · Since 30 Mar 2011 659 Posts Mosier Addicted

Wow - I was coming down off the mountain about an hour earlier and I got a speeding ticket on the same section for going 70 mph. It was my first ticket in years. I guess I got off lucky. My condolences to all the familes. So sad......

shred_da_gorge · Sun Jan 08, 12 2:34 pm

This is very sad, my heart goes out to the family of these victims, just young guys heading up to have fun.

Not sure what kind of Jeep it is, but I had a Cherokee years ago that was very light in the tail (or rather nose-heavy). This is the same spot I've seen many SUVs and p'ups off the road through the years, and I think people in SUVs often forget to weight their tails in winter; with the big engines up front they are torquey but slippery (and of course not speeding helps). My old Jeep also had a very tight turning radius for off-road use, but when steering into slides it made for easy over-reaction.

In this spot most wipeouts I've seen are on the southbound side (the way they were heading in the Suby so maybe not relevant), but my theory is that people are cautious in the curves and then (even subconsciously) accelerate on this straightaway that actually has a slight curve and ascent to it. It's kind of a sleeper from what I've seen, so be careful up there. And Kraemer's right, Blizzacks rock!

But alas, this is just random advice, none of which could bring these guys back. Sad

Pepi · Mon Jan 09, 12 12:24 am

A husband and wife couple who were renting XC skis from us were first on the scene and actually watched the accident happen.
They commented that the Subaru just appeared to have slid out of control and with little chance of correcting.
When they got out of the car to rush over to help, they had a hard time actually walking on the pavement due to the icey glaze on the roadway.

We used to feel like we had it safe on the 35 side of the mountain, while 26 was supposed to be the dangerous road.

Moisture, freezing temps and a sunny glaze will challenge even the best of snow tires.

Take your time/be safe, be as aware of the driving conditions as you possibly can, and thats about all you can do.

The detour section of 35 just downhill of the HRM lot and in front of the Tea Cup Lake parking area is also a challenging section of roadway with very difficult to maintain snow removal and an off-canted road angle, it has already taken a few cars victim this year, so be careful there as well.

WindLogik · Since 09 Feb 2009 95 Posts Hood River

We passed right as that couple was heading to the crash. We had a hard time braking the car because of the ice. We were in a Subaru too.

Sunny days are very deceiving for road conditions.