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July 15, 2026: Authorities said they found the body of 37-year-old Ben Andersen near his last recorded GPS location in the Mount St. Helens area. His Chevy Equinox was found at the bottom of a ravine, and no other details have been released.
Photo: KATU
This update summarizes the reported event and explains the practical legal context Oregon readers may want to understand. It is general information, not case-specific legal advice.
Published July 17, 2026
Authorities in Washington County said they found the body of a missing runner near Mount St. Helens, close to the last GPS point that had been recorded for him.
KATU reported that 37-year-old Ben Andersen had been reported missing in June. The Washington County Sheriff's Office first sought public help on June 29, after he had been missing for nearly two weeks. Officials said Andersen had last been seen on May 18, when his GPS location placed him near National Forest Road 25.
Sheriff's officials said Andersen's body was found near that location on Wednesday. His missing Chevy Equinox was also found at the bottom of a ravine. Skamania County Search and Rescue is assisting with recovery efforts, and Andersen's family has been notified.
The report said Andersen was believed to have been training for the Bigfoot 200 ultramarathon trail race when he went missing. Authorities have not released additional details about how he died.
For families facing a sudden loss after a search, records and early reports can matter quickly. When a death involves a vehicle recovery, a witness statement, GPS data, and agency findings may all become part of the record later used in a wrongful death claim.
Source reporting used to prepare this update and preserve citation transparency.
Insurance calls, medical bills, missed work, and uncertainty tend to arrive at the same time. The first job is to steady the situation: understand the facts, preserve useful records, and talk through the legal options that fit your Oregon injury claim.
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Photo: OregonLive
July 17, 2026
July 15, 2026: Portland firefighters responded before 7 a.m. Wednesday to a house fire in Southeast Portland that left a woman with burns and displaced at least three people, according to the Portland Fire Bureau.
Learn morePhoto: KATU
July 17, 2026
July 15, 2026: Portland Fire battled a house fire early Wednesday in the 7600 block of Southeast 65th Avenue. Two people were taken to a hospital, including one woman with burns to her legs, and investigators are still working to determine the cause.
Learn morePhoto: Illustration (AI-generated)
July 17, 2026
July 15, 2026: A July 5 head-on crash on state Route 503 left three people dead and one injured, according to the Washington State Patrol. The crash remains under investigation, and the medical examiner listed the cause and manner of death as pending.
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