Fatal Crash – Highway 26 – Wasco County - 10/15/26

WASCO COUNTY, Ore. (15 October 2026) - On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at approximately 6:22 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash on Highway 26 near milepost 62 in Wasco County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a white 2024 Ford Transit van, operated by Alexander Nikkole Meira (20) of Portland, was traveling westbound near Government Camp when it crossed into the eastbound lane and struck a 2022 Subaru Outback, operated by Craig Gerard Russillo (55) of Bend, head-on. The Subaru caught fire and several passersby pulled Russillo from the vehicle.

The operator of the Subaru (Russillo) was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Ford (Meira) sustained minor injuries and was treatment at an area hospital.

Impairment is believed to be a contributing factor in the crash. Meira was arrested on charges of DUII, Reckless Driving, and Manslaughter II and was lodged at the Northern Oregon Regional Corrections Facility.   

Highway 26 was impacted for approximately five hours during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Hoodland Fire Department, American Medical Response, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.           

# # #

About the Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) 
The Oregon State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is a specialized unit responsible for investigating fatal and critical injury collisions on Oregon’s highways. The team provides expertise in documenting, investigating, and analyzing complex motor vehicle crashes and crime scenes. They receive specialized training in using advanced measuring techniques and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for on-scene investigations. The CRU team includes ACTAR-accredited collision reconstructionists and technical collision investigators deployed across the state.