On July 20, 2025, 47-year-old Kyle Davis Graham of Saint Helens, Oregon, died after a high-speed pursuit that began on Deer Island and ended when his vehicle left Canaan Road near Highway 30 and rolled down an embankment by Merrill Creek. Graham was driving a white Kia Optima during the pursuit.

A Columbia County deputy, Corporal Seann Luedke, approached the crashed vehicle and, according to the Oregon State Police investigation, was confronted by Graham who was reportedly armed. Shots were fired; Graham was struck and later died despite life-saving efforts. No officers were injured. Investigators found Graham was a convicted felon in possession of a stolen firearm.

Corporal Luedke was placed on administrative leave, and the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office later concluded the use of deadly force was legally justified; no criminal charges were filed and no one else was arrested in connection with Graham’s death.

Did anyone in the Deer Island or Saint Helens area witness the pursuit or the crash who can add details about that night?