REDMOND, Ore. — A family of four from Troutdale all died Thursday in a three-vehicle crash on Highway 97 in Redmond, Oregon, according to a Saturday news release from Oregon State Police. Neighbors in Troutdale told KGW on Saturday that the family had been on their way south to watch Saturday's annular eclipse.
"Its horrible, it’s a horrible thing," said neighbor Cynthia Jacobsen, who said she had known the family for 10 years. "They were just going to take their children to see the eclipse. I mean, they were doing a wonderful family outing because they are that kind of people that always wanted to do something for their family, and it ended like that."
Police said a Chevrolet Silverado crossed the center line while traveling northbound on the highway and sideswiped a southbound commercial vehicle and trailer, then struck a Toyota Rav4 head-on. The Rav4 caught fire and became fully engulfed, according to police.
The Rav4 was driven by Gary Rutledge, 57, and carried Michelle Jean Windsor Rutledge, 53, Kate Rutledge, 15, and Ryan Rutledge, 17, as passengers. All four were related as immediate family members, police said, and all four were killed in the crash. The Silverado driver was hospitalized with serious injuries. The driver of the commercial vehicle was not injured.
The Reynolds School District confirmed that Kate and Ryan were both students at Reynolds High School in Troutdale. Kate was a sophomore and Ryan was a junior. School counselors and support staff will assist students and families struggling with the loss, the district said, and the high school will have care rooms set up where students can meet with mental health professionals or use the quiet space to process the news.
"The entire RSD family is saddened about this tragic loss," the district said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and family of the Rutledge family. We will provide support services at Reynolds High School for students and staff, and at Walt Morey Middle School and Sweetbriar Elementary on Monday for anyone who needs them, as they attended those schools as well."
District communications director Steve Padilla said both siblings excelled academically and had grown up in the district, so there are a lot of classmates and teachers who have known them for years and are going to be hit hard by their deaths.
"You go to elementary school, junior high and high school together with those groups of kids, you’re friends with them, lifelong friends. It’s going to be hard Monday morning," he said.
Cynthia Jacobsen described the Rutledge family as a central part of their tight-knit neighborhood, and said the family had hosted a neighborhood barbecue at their house just a couple months ago. She described Ryan as a straight-A student and Kate as someone who had a lot of friends.
"I mean, they're just really sweet kids, and the whole neighborhood is in shock and disbelief," she said. "It's just so devastating, that they were just wonderful people, caring, kind, compassionate people, very family-driven. They were the kind of people that you just want to be friends with."
"It's devastating. There's not words to describe it," added her husband, Mark Jacobsen. "We just saw them a couple of days ago, and now we're never going to see them again."
Highway 97 was closed near the crash site for about four hours while state troopers investigated the scene. OSP is working with the district attorney's office to continue the investigation, according to the news release. The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Redmond Fire Department, Redmond Police Department and Oregon Department of Transportation also assisted.
OSP is requesting that any witnesses to the crash contact the agency by dialing *OSP and reference case number SP23326671.