CLACKAMAS COUNTY, OR - On Friday, December 27, 2024, at 5:30 p.m., Oregon State Police (OSP) responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 224, near milepost 15, in Clackamas County.
The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Jeep Cherokee, operated by Matthew Leroy Cooper (43) of Portland, attempted a left hand turn into a parking lot and entered the path of an eastbound Hyundai Santa Fe, operated by Jianxiang Zhao (44) of Portland, causing a side impact crash.
The operator of the Jeep (Cooper) was declared deceased at the scene. He was not believed to be wearing a seatbelt.
The operator of the Hyundai (Zhao) was reportedly not injured.
The highway was impacted for approximately four hours during the on-scene investigation. An unsafe left turn is being considered as the primary cause of the crash.
OSP was assisted by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office and ODOT.
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About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU)
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in the documentation, investigation, and analysis of complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in the use of advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.
