Mark Hendrickson, manager of Mt. Hood Skibowl, was killed by the driver of a car while riding his bicycle down Timberline Highway. According to Oregon State Police, it happened Saturday morning just before 8:00 am and less than one-half mile from Timberline Lodge.
Here’s more from the OSP statement (trigger warning, details of a traffic crash):
“The preliminary investigation indicated a bicycle, operated by Mark Sorrenson Hendrickson (48) of Government Camp, was attempting to travel south from Timberline Lodge on SR-173. A white Hyundai Tucson, operated by Emilio Trampus [sic] (71) of Salem, was traveling north on SR-173 and failed to yield the right of way when he turned left at West Leg Rd, across the bicyclist’s lane. The bicyclist collided with the vehicle, was ejected from his bicycle, and became unresponsive in the roadway.”
The driver’s last name is Trampuz (not Trampus) and he and Hendrickson were both well-known to many people in the Mt. Hood community.
Here’s what Mt. Hood Skibowl posted about Hendrickson on Facebook:
“Mark joined our Skibowl family just shy of 4 years ago and made an immediate impact on our culture. His passion and zest for life was immeasurable, which also crossed over into his professional life as well. He exuded greatness and strived for excellence while at the same time gaining respect from everyone who he came in contact with. Mark not only made Mt. Hood Skibowl a better place to work and visit, he made all of us just better people!
The loss of Mark is significant and will be felt long into the future from anyone who knew him. He is survived by his wife Casey and two boys; Jess and Cash. Please join us in sending our deepest condolences to Mark’s immediate and extended family as he certainly touched all of us so positively.”
Trampuz is an “avid outdoorsman” according to one source and an active member of the Mt. High Snowsports Club. According to the club’s website, Trampuz was leading a bike ride on Saturday when the collision with Hendrickson occurred. (UPDATE: A source says Trampuz was not leading that ride but was doing something else on the mountain that day. Read more below). The group ride was from Timberline Lodge down to Trillium Lake via West Leg Rd.
The collision happened in the middle of a sweeping hairpin turn on Timberline Hwy where it connects with West Leg Rd.
This is such a tragic and senseless loss of life. Our hearts go out to everyone involved.
UPDATE, 8/8 at 3:00 pm: A source who was up on the mountain Saturday morning emailed BikePortland to tell us Trampuz was volunteering to mark ski routes at the time of the collision. The person who contacted me said this is what happened:
When Emilio turned left on the West Leg Road around 7:06 am on August 5, he did not see anything approaching him. On a gloomy morning (it subsequently rained), with a bike rider all in black and no headlight coming at high speed, Emilio should be realized not to be completely at fault. He made it almost across to the West Leg Road when he heard a bang and stopped. Mark had hit the passenger rear quarter panel of his car.