Deadly crash on icy Hwy. 26 near Mt. Hood

A Gresham man was killed and two other men were seriously injured in a single-vehicle crash early Saturday morning on icy Highway 26 about nine miles east of Government Camp,, Oregon State Police reported.

Around 6 a.m., a 2004 Ford F250 pickup driven by Nathan Fletcher, 35, of southeast Portland, was eastbound on Highway 26 near milepost 64 when he lost control on icy road conditions, troopers said.

The pickup spun clockwise and traveled off the road, rolling down a short embankment where it came to rest on its top with the passenger side against a tree.

Right front passenger Robert Gene Brandow, 57, of Gresham, was pronounced dead at the scene, troopers said.

The victim’s son, rear seat passenger Gene Brandow, 32, of Sandy, was critically injured. Gene Brandow and Fletcher, who was also seriously injured, were transported by LifeFlight helicopter to Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.

All were using seat belts, troopers said.

OSP troopers from The Dalles Area Command office are continuing the investigation. Trooper Matt Zistel is the lead investigator.

OSP was assisted at the scene by the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office, Hoodland Fire Department and ODOT.