Driver Reportedly Fled Traffic Stop on Foot and Fell From 100 Foot Bridge

Police say the man died after falling into Eagle Creek near bridge, in the darkness.

Salem-News.com

(EAGLE CREEK, Ore.) - Oregon State Police are investigating the death of a man in Eagle Creek whose body was found near the base of a bridge over the creek along Highway 224. Lt. Gregg Hastings with OSP, says troopers and detectives are investigating the case with the Clackamas County medical examiner.

"The deceased male reportedly had run from the scene of an attempted traffic stop and was found when officers were searching for him."

The man has since been identified as 41-year old Kelly Joe Dillard of Sandy. Hastings says troopers learned Mr. Dillard was wanted on a felony warrant for Absconding Parole issued out of State Parole and Probation Department.

Highway 224 was closed in both directions with the help of Oregon highway crews, and a detour was in place during the investigation.

Hastings says the preliminary investigation indicates that early this morning, at approximately 1:00 a.m., an OSP trooper attempted to stop a vehicle westbound on Highway 224 west of Estacada for traveling 95 mph in a 55 speed zone.

"After the trooper turned around to overtake the vehicle, the driver quickly pulled it over onto the shoulder and stopped near the bridge over Eagle Creek between SE Wildcat Mountain Road and SE Riverside Way. As the trooper was starting to pull up to the stopped vehicle, the driver got out and fled on foot in front of the vehicle into the darkness."

Hastings says a Clackamas County deputy with a canine stopped at the scene in the same span of time.

He said, "The canine quickly started to track where the driver fled and about five minutes later they spotted the driver face down in Eagle Creek about 100 feet below the bridge."

Estacada Fire Department personnel responded and rappelled down to where Mr. Dillard was located, confirming he was deceased. The Clackamas County medical examiner is en route to assist in the death investigation.

OSP troopers and detectives from the Portland Area Command office are continuing their investigation, Hastings said. No more information will be released pending completion of the scene investigation.

Hastings says troopers and detectives are investigating the case with the Clackamas County medical examiner.