Nina Westbrook Killed in Welches Car Crash
Investigators say speed and weather conditions played a role in the fatal Clackamas County collision
Nina Westbrook, 34, of Gresham, was killed in a single-vehicle car accident on Highway 26 near Welches in Clackamas County, Oregon, on Wednesday, April 15, according to the Oregon State Police.
The westbound Dodge Ram pickup traveled off the snow- and hail-covered road near milepost 39 at approximately 3 p.m. The truck plowed through a ditch before striking a tree head-on.
Westbrook, who was riding in the back seat, died in the crash. The 39-year-old driver and another 39-year-old passenger were rushed to a local hospital with serious injuries. A 2-year-old girl in the vehicle suffered minor injuries.
Investigators believe both speed and weather conditions played a role in the wreck. The crash remains under investigation.
How did weather and speed affect the Highway 26 crash?
Investigators are examining how the Dodge Ram lost control on the hail-covered stretch of highway. While weather creates hazardous driving conditions, drivers are legally required to reduce their speed to maintain control of their vehicles during winter storms.
"The grief of losing a family member in a crash is something that no one is ever prepared to handle," said Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal. "Modern crash reconstruction can use momentum equations to prove exactly how fast vehicles were moving before the crash."
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 587 people died in Oregon traffic crashes in 2023, reflecting an 88 percent increase in statewide traffic death over the preceding decade.
What are the next steps for Westbrook's family?
The sudden loss of a loved one in a preventable collision leaves families facing immense emotional and financial burdens. When a passenger is killed due to a driver's failure to handle safe speeds, the victim's estate often must handle complex insurance claims while grieving.
"Re-run compliance review"
Insurance adjusters frequently attempt to contact surviving family members quickly following fatal wrecks, often before the full extent of a family's long-term losses can be calculated or understood.
Oregon wrongful death statute
Under ORS § 30.020, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. Oregon applies modified comparative fault (51% bar). The statute of limitations is 3 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and the decedent's pre-death pain and suffering.