Bend man killed in early-AM Highway 26 crash

A 22-year-old Bend man was killed early Friday when his car crossed the center line of Highway 26 east of Sandy and collided head on with an empty log truck, Oregon State Police reported.

Michael E. Eberitzsch II was identified as the man killed in the crash, which occurred shortly before 3:30 a.m. near milepost 33, about two miles east of Sandy in Clackamas County, said OSP Lt. Josh Brooks.

Preliminary information indicates a white 2014 Hyundai four-door sedan driven by Eberitzsch was heading east on the highway when it left its lane and crossed into the right-hand lane of westbound traffic.

The car collided head-on with a 2003 Kenworth log truck carrying an empty trailer, Brooks said.

A wheel from the log truck came off during the crash, striking another semi-truck as it passed by in a secondary crash.

Eberitzsch was pronounced dead at the crash scene. Both drivers of the semi-trucks were unhurt in the crash and are cooperating with investigators, the OSP lieutenant said.

“While this incident is still under investigation, speed and alcohol are being investigated as a potential factors in this crash,” Brooks said in a news release.

OSP was assisted at the crash scene by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Sandy Police Department, Oregon Department of Transportation, Sandy Fire Department and Hoodland Fire Department.

The crash and investigation closed the highway for over five hours, backing up traffic in an area with no easy alternate routes.