Women Trapped in Vehicle Overnight After Crash Into Columbia River

Family members and friends discovered the vehicle down the embankment at about 4:30 PM today.

Photos of scene courtesy: Multnomah County Sheriff

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - A 19-year old Gresham woman was trapped in her vehicle overnight after being involved in a crash that ended with her vehicle coming to rest 50 feet down a steep embankment along the Historic Columbia River Highway.

Roxann Marie Pope was trapped in her 1991 Chevrolet Blazer overnight and into this afternoon before she was located and brought to safety, according to Lt. Jason Gates, Public Information Officer with the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.

Gates says Pope reportedly got off work from the Multnomah Falls Lodge at about 9:00 PM last night and was suspected to have been on her way home when the crash occurred.

"Loved ones realized she had not returned today and became even more concerned when her employer called indicating she had not arrived at work." Several of Pope's family members and friends were searching for her by retracing her route home when they discovered her vehicle down the embankment at about 4:30 PM today.

The crash scene, which is located approximately one mile west of the Lodge, was not easily visible from the roadway, Gates said.

The family immediately called 911 which generated a response from Multnomah County deputies, Corbett Fire High Angle Rescue and AMR.

"At the time of the rescue Pope was breathing and conscious after having been trapped for approximately 19 hours. Corbett Fire very skillfully was able to extricate Pope and bring her up the steep embankment over very rugged terrain." Pope was transferred from ground transportation to Life Flight at the Multnomah Falls parking lot and flown to OHSU. She is listed in critical condition at this time. Gates says the cause of the crash is under investigation by the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.

An early report that she was reported missing out of Hood River was erroneous. Pope had not been reported missing.