LCSO CASE #22-4985 — DEATH INVESTIGATION
News Release from Lane Co. Sheriff’s Office
Posted on FlashAlert: September 7th, 2022 7:15 PM
*UPDATE* 09/08/22
76 year old Walter Albert Biddle has been identified as the missing hiker that was found deceased in the area of FS Rd. #19 near milepost 5 yesterday. Evidence suggests that Biddle drove off of the roadway for an unknown reason and crashed into the North Fork of the Willamette River near Westfir.
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On September 6, 2022 at approximately 7:15pm, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office received the report of an overdue subject from the Eugene area. A caller reported that their 75 year old family member had left to run errands and go for a short hike. The caller believed that he had possibly gone for a hike somewhere east of Cottage Grove.
Lane County Sheriff Search and Rescue personnel including multiple volunteers responded and searched into the night.
At approximately 8:05am this morning, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Cedar Creek Fire Incident Management Team that a crew had located a vehicle in the water off of FS RD #19 (Aufderheide Hwy.) near milepost 5. A deceased male was located in the water a short distance from the vehicle.
Deputies arrived and confirmed that the vehicle and deceased person were those from the missing hiker call. The identity of the involved is not being released at this time pending notifications.
Initial investigation reveals no evidence of foul play.
On September 6, 2022 at approximately 7:15pm, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office received the report of an overdue subject from the Eugene area. A caller reported that their 75 year old family member had left to run errands and go for a short hike. The caller believed that he had possibly gone for a hike somewhere east of Cottage Grove.
Lane County Sheriff Search and Rescue personnel including multiple volunteers responded and searched into the night.
At approximately 8:05am this morning, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Cedar Creek Fire Incident Management Team that a crew had located a vehicle in the water off of FS RD #19 (Aufderheide Hwy.) near milepost 5. A deceased male was located in the water a short distance from the vehicle.
Deputies arrived and confirmed that the vehicle and deceased person were those from the missing hiker call. The identity of the involved is not being released at this time pending notifications.
Initial investigation reveals no evidence of foul play.
9/7
Earlier this morning there was a report of a vehicle that left the road and went down an embankment approximately seventy-five feet and came to rest in the North Fork of the Willamette River. The accident occurred about 6.7 miles from Westfir. At least one person is presumed to have died.
This story will be updated as more information is made available.
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.
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