A Wednesday evening collision on South Ivy Street in Canby has claimed the life of a 13-year-old girl and led to the arrest of a driver accused of leaving the scene. Police say the girl was riding a scooter in the bike lane when she was struck. Another 13-year-old girl was also hit and survived, according to authorities.
As FOX 12 reported, the collision happened around 7:20 p.m. on September 23, near the 300 block of South Ivy Street. The girl who suffered fatal injuries was flown to Randall Children’s Hospital, where she later died. Police had not publicly identified her in the reports available Thursday.
The search for the driver initially centered on a white cargo van with distinctive green and black markings. Police released an image of the vehicle and said it had continued south along Ivy Street after the collision. Officers located the van and the suspected driver several hours later, identifying him as 31-year-old Cody Churchwell. According to the report detailing his arrest, Churchwell was booked into the Clackamas County Jail on allegations of second-degree manslaughter, reckless driving, reckless endangering and failure to perform the duties of a driver.
Investigators also identified a possible connection between the van and Pacific Plumbing and Drain Services. In a statement provided to KOIN, the company expressed sympathy for the girl’s family and said it learned about the collision the following morning, along with the possibility that one of its fleet vehicles was involved. The business said it promptly contacted Canby police and was cooperating with the investigation. Its statement did not confirm ownership of the vehicle involved.
The investigation remains open, and people with information can still help police establish what happened on Ivy Street. In their appeal for witnesses and other information, officers directed the public to the Canby police nonemergency line at 503-655-8211. Anyone calling about the collision should reference case number 26-018884.
