The man who fell out of a car and died east of Washougal on Saturday has been identified as Jose Gonzalez-Ramirez, 34, of Vancouver.
An autopsy showed the man died of blunt force trauma to the head. The death was ruled an accident, said an official with Clark County Medical
Examiner’s Office said.
The incident happened at Milepost 18 on state Highway 14, east of Washougal, about 3 p.m. Saturday.
According to witnesses, Gonzalez-Ramirez fell out of the back of a newer-model, champagne-colored Mercedes convertible that had been eastbound and did not stop, Washington State Patrol Trooper Ryan Tanner said on Saturday.
On Sunday, Trooper Josh Winborne said, “We’re still trying to contact the driver. We’re still investigating.”
He said troopers believe there were three men in the car.
“From witness accounts, it sounds like they were just driving around and having a good time and the victim was seated in the back and just fell out when they were driving along the road.”
A state patrol news release issued Sunday afternoon said the Mercedes was eastbound and “proceeded to pass another vehicle in (the) oncoming lane.” It added Gonzalez-Ramirez was sitting on the “rear deck” of the convertible and fell onto the highway.
Detective Sgt. Rob Brusseau is in charge of the investigation. People with information are asked to call the patrol at 360-449-7999.
