Vancouver woman involved in fatal Oregon crash

A Vancouver woman was identified as the driver of a fatal crash that was discovered at least 12 hours later on the Oregon Coast.

A hitchhiker along Highway 101 just north of Cannon Beach, Ore. heard cries for help and spotted a crashed car 40 feet down a heavily wooded embankment Sunday evening, according to Oregon State Police.

Emergency crews were notified about 8:30 p.m., and responded to find Gabriela Rayon, 21, of Vancouver seriously injured and her passenger, Ruth A. Delgado, 23, of Los Angeles, deceased.

Authorities said that Rayon was driving a 2004 Chevrolet four-door south on Highway 101 when for an unconfirmed reason the car left the roadway and went down an embankment.

The passenger side of the car struck a tree and the vehicle then came to rest on the ground in heavy brush among the trees and was not visible from the roadway.

The crash apparently occurred at least 12 hours prior to the hitchhiker spotting the car, according to state patrol.

Rayon was taken to Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria but was later transferred to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland where she is listed in fair condition.

Oregon State Patrol is continuing its investigation into the crash.