On the quiet stretch of Highway 281 near milepost 7, in Hood River County, fate turned tragic just after 9:20 on the night of October 15, 2025. The life of 37-year-old Phillip Mickey Himes of Hood River was cut short when a Southbound Subaru Impreza illegally attempted to pass another vehicle and slammed head-on into his northbound motorcycle.
The Oregon State Police say the crash happened at approximately 9:23 p.m. The Subaru, driven by 26-year-old Pedro Jonathan Flores-Flores (also of Hood River), tried to overtake a Toyota Corolla driven by 38-year-old Jesus Esquivel Martinez. But that move came in a no-passing zone—and the Subaru collided directly with the Honda VT750 that Himes was operating. The impact was devastating. Himes was declared dead at the scene from his injuries, as emergency responders assessed that nothing further could be done.
While the Corolla’s driver emerged unscathed, Flores-Flores also survived physically. However, authorities arrested him at the scene and booked him on a range of serious charges: Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII), Reckless Driving, two counts of Reckless Endangering, and first-degree Manslaughter. The evidence thus far suggests that impaired judgment and the illegal passing maneuver combined in a lethal way.
Because of the severity of the crash and the multiple vehicles involved, Highway 281 was closed for about five hours as investigators and reconstruction teams combed the scene. The Oregon State Police’s Collision Reconstruction Unit led the forensic work, supported on-site by the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, Hood River Police Department, Wyeast Fire, and ODOT crews.
At this point, the investigation remains open. Authorities are reviewing evidence, gathering witness statements, and reconstructing exactly how the sequence of events unfolded. Was speed a factor? Was the driver visibly impaired? Those are questions yet to be answered. But the preliminary findings already underscore the danger of passing in restricted areas, especially under questionable conditions.
For the small Hood River community, this collision is a bitter reminder of how fragile moments on the road can be. Himes had family, friends, routines, hopes—and now they’re left grappling with a sudden, irreversible loss. The memory of his last ride on that stretch of road will not fade quickly.
Flores-Flores is expected to face arraignment in the days ahead, where prosecutors will lay out their case. Meanwhile, local leaders and safety advocates may now renew calls for reinforced signage, stricter enforcement of passing rules, and public awareness campaigns to prevent such tragedies in the future.
