Man dies after car collides with tree

ESTACADA, Ore. -- An 81-year old Lebanon man died from injuries in Saturday morning when his vehicle struck a downed tree and a portion of the tree came through the front windshield on Highway 211 about three miles south of Estacada.

WILLIAM FREDRICK WALLING, age 81, from Lebanon, died shortly after 2:30 a.m. Monday morning at a Portland-area hospital.

OSP Recruit Trooper Kevin Ferguson is completing the investigation into the incident that happened December 26, 2009 at approximately 10:20 a.m. after a tree was apparently blown down from the west side of Highway 211 near milepost 30 and came to rest off the pavement across most of the highway.   At least one person stopped in the northbound lane and reportedly was trying to get attention of drivers approaching the area.

A southbound 1985 Chevrolet El Camino driven by WALLING failed to stop for the downed tree, possibly due to sunlight affecting his view.  The vehicle struck the tree and a portion of it came through the windshield hitting him in the head and neck area.  The impact snapped the tree in two and the vehicle stopped a short distance after hitting it.

WALLING, who was the lone occupant, was transported by LifeFlight to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland for treatment until he died this morning. He was using safety restraints.

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, Estacada Fire Department, and ODOT assisted at the scene. The highway was closed for about 1 1/2 hours.