Interstate 405 Head-On Crash Kills Popular Radio Announcer

Date: March 23, 2011
Location: Northbound 405 Off-ramp to Highway 30
Names: Heidi Tauber Esping, David Molnar, Paul Pinkson

According to Oregonlive.com, Portland police have identified the woman who died in a head-on collision on Interstate 405.

Heidi Tauber Esping, age 52, worked for local radio stations in a decades-long career as an announcer. Most recently, she worked for Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB). Lynne Clendenin, OPB’s VP of Radio Programming was quoted as saying that Esping was “welcoming always in her manner. You could hear her smiling.”

For an unknown reason, Esping’s 2007 Mazda CX7 SUV entered U.S. 30 the wrong way at about 7:25pm on Wednesday evening March 23. She made it partially up the ramp before slamming head-on into a 2011 Freightliner truck, pulling two trailers, that was just exiting northbound I405 onto U.S. 30. Sgt. Pete Simpson of the Portland Police Bureau said that Esping died on impact.

The driver of the Freightliner, David Molnar, age 45 was uninjured, although his passenger, Paul Pinkson, age 43 was transported to an area hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

As part of the police investigation into the cause of the crash, a blood toxicology report on Esping was ordered. Results from that report could take up to six weeks.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Ms. Esping’s family and friends. We know that she will be missed by those closest to her, as well as those who enjoyed listening to her on the radio.

Many traffic crashes are difficult to explain, and when death or injury is involved, it is important to contact a qualified personal injury attorney. Your lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation. Our Oregon wrongful death attorneys provide information on finding a good lawyer, and if you have questions after a car crash, please contact us.