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(Oregon State Police)

Oregon State Police identified the victim of a fatal bicycle/truck accident Saturday afternoon as Peter Michael Linden of St. Helens.

Linden, 74, was wearing a helmet when he was hit by a truck driven by Kristopher Lee Woodruff, 34, of Vernonia as he rode on the shoulder of U.S. 30 west of Rainier. Emergency responders said Linden died at the scene after coming to rest off the highway down an embankment.

An initial investigation indicates Woodruff was driving westbound and became distracted while looking at a text message on his phone, according to state police. His vehicle traveled onto the shoulder where it struck the Linden. Woodruff, who does not have a valid license, continued driving without stopping at the scene until stopped by Oregon State Police.

Woodruff displayed a North Dakota identification card showing a Minot address. He was lodged in Columbia County Jail for manslaughter in the first degree, felony hit and run, and a misdemeanor warrant out of Washington County for failure to appear.

-- Wendy Owen