The state of Oregon has paid $150,000 to the estate of a man who died when a tree fell across the Historic Columbia River Highway and onto his car.

27-year-old Jorge Figueroa was visiting the Columbia River Gorge from the Seattle area in 2015 when the tree smashed his car.

The family faulted the Oregon Department of Transportation for failing to remove the decaying tree near Corbett, saying it posed a significant risk to the public.

The case had been scheduled to go to trial this week, but was dismissed after the settlement was reached.

A Transportation Department spokesman declined to say why the state settled or answer questions about whether the department was aware of the tree’s condition.

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