The weekend before Christmas Interstate 84 was shut down following a fatal two-vehicle crash at milepost 25 (Rooster Rock State Park).
At 11:35 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, Oregon State Police responded to the crash in the Columbia River Gorge. Officers learned a Subaru Forester, driven by John Erik Andersson, 59, of Portland, was traveling the wrong way in the westbound lanes of the highway. Andersson struck a westbound Toyota Rav4, driven by Nathan David Pederson, 24, of Mulino, head-on.
Andersson was pronounced dead at the scene. Pederson and a passenger, Claudia Pederson, 25, of Mulino, suffered minor injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The westbound lanes of the highway were closed for nearly three hours during the investigation. On the busy travel day, that meant drivers were diverted across the river at Hood River and Cascade Locks.
Oregon State Police was aided in the investigation by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Corbett Fire, and Oregon Department of Transportation.