Man dies, 3 kids hurt in Cowlitz County crash

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- One man died, one child was critically hurt and two other children suffered minor injuries when the car they were in went down an embankment in Cowlitz County Sunday morning.

The crash happened just before 11 a.m. at North Pacific Avenue and Ostrander Avenue, officials with Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue said.

There were three children in the car, ages 2, 7 and 9. One of the children was able to get out of the car after the crash that left the car about 50 feet off the road, scattering rocks across the way. That child flagged down an oncoming driver, who stopped and called 911.

A number of different emergency responders rushed to the scene: two fire engines, three medical units, a ladder truck, three support vehicles, three chief officers plus troopers from the Washington State Patrol.

Life Flight arrived and took the 9-year-old to OHSU in Portland for treatment of multiple injuries, officials said.

The 2-year-old and 7-year-old were taken to Peace Health St. John's in Longview to be treated for minor injuries.

However, the man in the car died at the scene, authorities said.

No names have been released. The Washington State Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash.