Crime & Safety
Portland Man Killed In Car Crash Outside Pot Shop
George Fleerlage died after rear-ending Mitchel Braning west of Manning on Highway 26, right in front of cannabis retailer Puff Oregon.
MANNING, OR — A Portland man was killed in a crash Monday when he rear-ended another driver on Highway 26 west of Banks, near Manning.
Oregon State Police officials said George Henry Fleerlage, 86, died from injuries he sustained after driving his 2002 BMW 3 series right into the rear end of Mitchel Braning's 1998 Volkswagen Passat. Braning, 55, was taken to a Hillsboro hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The crash occurred around 2:15 p.m. March 19.
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Police said Braning, a Banks resident, was traveling west on Highway 26 when he slowed and entered the painted median to make a left turn into the parking lot between Dairy Queen and Puff Oregon, a recreational cannabis retailer.
Also traveling west, Fleerlage reportedly left his lane and crossed into the median, colliding with Braning.
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A medical emergency and no safety belt are considered factors in the crash, police said, noting that Braning and Fleerlage were the only two occupants in their cars at the time.
Image via Oregon State Police
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