Fredrick Kortlever and Erez Mayer Die After Washington County Crash on Highway 26 near Milepost 26

Washington County, Oregon (August 18, 2023) – 90-year-old Fredrick Henry Kortlever of Astoria and 50-year-old Erez Yair Mayer of Portland have been identified as two persons killed in a multi-car accident on Tuesday afternoon in Washington County.

The fatal collision occurred on Highway 26 near milepost 26 at about 12:38 p.m. on August 15.

Kortlever was heading eastbound in a white Ford F-250 when he drove into the westbound lanes and crashed head-on into Mayer’s silver GMC Savanna. A westbound Honda Civic operated by 23-year-old John Larson of Troutdale then rear-ended the Ford.

Kortlever and Mayer died in the collision.

The GMC passengers, a 16-year-old female and a 15-year-old male, were hospitalized with critical injuries.

Larson and 21-year-old Alexander Baumgardt riding in his vehicle, were not injured in the crash.

Police closed Highway 26 for approximately 5.5 hours following the incident.

An investigation is ongoing.