Michigan state lawmaker collapses, dies at Smith Rock

Michigan state officials and lawmakers are among those mourning the loss of a state representative who died Saturday after collapsing during a hike at Smith Rock State Park.

Deschutes County sheriff’s Sgt. Vance Lawrence identified the victim as Juliana (Julie) Kathleen Plawecki, 54, of Dearborn Heights, Michigan.

Lawrence said Plawecki was vacationing with her two daughters when the incident occurred Saturday during a hike on Misery Ridge at Smith Rock, a popular, scenic Central Oregon locale that draws visitors from around the world.

They were about two-thrids of the way up the trail from the east side entry when “she stopped, (said she) wasn’t feeling well and was going to sit down,” he said.

She quickly lost consciousness, Lawrence said. “There was an off duty nurse at the scene and CPR was administered almost immediately.” However, he said, “She never regained consciousness.”

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue responded to bring the woman down off of the trail, down the steep slope, Lawrence said, adding that “nothing was suspicious.

The Detroit Free Press and other Michigan media reported that the state’s politicians and leaders were mourning the loss of the first-term state representative, a Democrat from Dearborn Heights who died of an apparent heart attack.

Katie Carey, the spokeswoman for Michigan House Democratic Leader Tim Greimel, D-Auburn Hills, said Julie Plawecki’s family informed them of her death.

“Julie’s true passion was her husband Mark and her three daughters,” Greimel said in a statement Sunday. “All of us in the caucus are truly saddened and send our deepest sympathies to her family and friends during this difficult time.”