A Troutdale family of four
headed south on Thursday.
They were just going to take their Children
to see the eclipse. I mean, they were doing a wonderful
family outing because they're that kind of people
that always wanted to do something for their
family as their Toyota rav four traveled along
highway 97 in Deschutes County. The unthinkable happened. There was a multi car crash on highway 97 in Deschutes County, Oregon State. Police say a
Chevy Silverado crossed
the center line sideswiped a commercial truck
before hitting and killing
the Rutledge family. Gary Michelle and their two
Children, Ryan
and Kate. It's devastating. There's not a word to describe it. Cynthia and Mark Jacobson have lived across the street
from the Rutledge family
for 10 years. We have a pretty tight
neighborhood and they were
very central
to it. They say Gary and Michelle were
the type of people you wanted
to be friends
with that. They were just wonderful
people. They were caring, kind,
compassionate people. 17 year old Ryan and 15 year
old Kate attended Reynolds
high school, both grew up in the Reynolds
school district and classmates
knew them for years. You go to elementary school, junior high
and high school together
with a group
of kids. You're friends with them,
lifelong friends. And, um, it's going to be hard.
Monday morning. It's a tragic, shocking loss
for the Troutdale community. But even more so for the ones
who knew this family best parents aren't set up to
bury their Children
and grandchildren. It's just not in our DNA. Police say the driver of that
Chevy Silverado
that hit the Rutledge family was transported
to a local hospital with
serious injuries. No word yet on if they will
be criminally charged in the newsroom. I'm Ashley
Graham kgw News.