Tag: Crash

Community May 10, 2023

Police Staffing Traffic Division

On May 9th, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) announced it would partially re-institute the Traffic Division. In 2021, Chief Chuck Lovell transferred officers to precincts to answer 911 emergency calls during a police shortage, and the division has remained mostly unstaffed until now. In this limited iteration of traffic-focused policing, two sergeants, ten motorcycle officers, and two car-based officers will work seven days a week from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Chief Lovell acknowledges a steep increase in fatal crashes since transferring officers from the Traffic Division. Although BBP remains understaffed and continues to face an increased 911 call volume, the public’s desire for traffic enforcement has prompted this slight shift in priority. 2022 logged 68 fatal crashes, with nearly half involving pedestrians. On April 28th, Montavilla was the site of a deadly vehicle-pedestrian crash involving a person in a wheelchair. The early morning incident at NE 82nd Avenue and Glisan Street took the life of someone thought to be in a crosswalk. PPB feels having officers patrolling High-crash Corridors during the evening hours should help curb reckless and impaired driving, reducing the number of deadly crashes.

The current Traffic Division is smaller than pre-pandemic levels and will focus on reducing dangerous driving behaviors, including Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII) detection and investigation. Traffic officers will also support traffic-related calls for service, investigating severe and fatal injury crashes. This limited return to enforcement may strike a balance between discouraging the most dangerous drivers from harmful behavior and not over-policing an often profiled population. Expect more officers on the streets pulling over motorists and issuing warnings or citations.

Jacob Loeb

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Infrastructure March 3, 2023March 17, 2023

Biketown Rack Removed after Car Crash

Biketown maintenance staff recently removed the bike-share rack on SE 81st Avenue and E Burnside Street after it received significant damage. Around noon on February 19th, an older Toyota sedan drove over the rack bending all six lock-post. Lyft, the operator of Portland’s bike rental program, will replace the dock next week.

*Biketown Station with car stuck on top*

Biketown bike racks, referred to as stations, are placed on sidewalks or in the parking lane of streets. These designated spaces offer users a dependable location to find the iconic orange bikes. Although riders can lock the bike any place at the end of a trip, Biketown finically incentivizes people to return rented bikes to stations. Since its removal, this station no longer appears on the Biketown System Map. Riders looking to save the $1 fee charged for parking outside a station must travel to the nearest location on NE 78th and Glisan Street. Unlike the damaged unit, the bike-share operators placed that station on the sidewalk.

All bike spaces were empty when the crash occurred, and no injuries were reported. With only plastic delineator posts marking the station’s footprint, this type of collision could happen again. However, this is the first reported incident at this location since its installation 18 months ago. Expect a new station at SE 81st Avenue and E Burnside Street by March 10th.

*Biketown Station Replaced on SE 81st Ave*

*Biketown Station on NE 78th Ave and NE Glisan St*

Jacob Loeb

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Infrastructure October 29, 2022March 25, 2023

Bicycle and Car Crash at SE 92nd and Division

Last night at 11:17 p.m., Portland Police officers from the East Precinct responded to a crash near SE Division Street and SE 92nd Avenue. At the scene, they found a 47-year-old bicycle rider with life-threatening injuries. The car’s uninjured driver cooperated with the investigation. This collision is one of the first serious injuries sustained on SE Division Street since the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) completed the Outer Division Safety Project.

During the investigation, Portland Police officers closed the eastbound lanes of SE Division Street between SE 92nd Avenue and SE 94th Avenue. Westbound lanes remained open. All of SE Division Street is currently open to traffic again, with only police tape and burnt flares indicating that anything happened at this intersection. The initial investigation determined that the automobile driver, operating a 2003 Toyota Camry, was traveling eastbound on SE Division Street and collided with the bicyclist riding southbound on SE 92nd Avenue.

Preliminary reports indicate that the bicyclist may have disregarded traffic signals at the intersection before crossing SE Division Street. However, the Police Bureau’s Major Crash Team (MCT) considers weather-related visibility a possible factor. The bicyclist remains in the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Portland Police will continue the investigation.

If anyone has information about this crash, please contact crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, attention Traffic Investigations Unit, and reference case number 22-289329.

Police tape on pavement "POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS"

Jacob Loeb

Community May 5, 2022March 25, 2023

Car Collides with McDonald’s Again

Last night, a vehicle jumped the curb and collided with the McDonald’s restaurant at 8149 SE Stark Street. Portland Police received the hit and run report at 9:43 p.m. A KOIN 6 News report indicates the driver “was doing donuts” before crashing into the building.

The car missed a number 72 bus shelter along SE 82nd Avenue and avoided a nearby City trash can. However, the vehicle destroyed a TriMet-owned bench before traveling through the building’s wall. Tables and an interior support column prevented the car from crossing more than a few feet into the store. According to a McDonald’s employee, no staff working that night suffered injuries due to this incident.

*Inside McDonald’s showing damaged column and sheared off table posts*

A similar crash occurred at this same restaurant last year. As with that incident, Police identified unsafe driving as the cause of the wreck. Damage created by yesterday’s event appears to be less significant than the 2021 collision. However, the building will require extensive repairs. Expect to see crews mending the building within the next few months.

Jacob Loeb

Construction, Infrastructure December 21, 2021

Utility Pole Severed by Auto Collision

Yesterday, Pacific Power crews closed one lane of traffic as they replaced a damaged utility pole at 232 NE 82nd Avenue. A vehicle collided with the pole in the early morning hours of December 20th, snapping the wooden pole free at the sidewalk and cracking it in half.

Pacific Power received notice of the damage at 6:44 AM. The incident affected electrical service to a single customer, and crews restored service soon after 10:00 AM. An area resident noted on Facebook that a similar incident demolished the same utility pole in 2015. Tom Gauntt, Spokesman at Pacific Power, did not have records extending back to that prior incident but noted that 82nd Avenue utility poles often suffer similar vehicle collisions.

Within 12 hours of its reported damage, crews replaced the utility pole, restoring power to a single city streetlight on the west side of 82nd Avenue. The linemen minimized the disruption to commuters, only closing the outermost northbound lane of 82nd Avenue. Unfortunately, due to its location at the entrance to Wendy’s Restaurant and within inches of the curb, this price of infrastructure may suffer the same collision again. Fortunately, the wood utility pole is relatively easy to replace, and this junction point serves just one customer.

Title photo and other image as noted by Weston Ruter. All others, copyright Montavilla News.

Community, Infrastructure September 17, 2021September 17, 2021

Two Vehicle Crash on 78th And Burnside

UPDATE – 3:35 All roads are clear of large debris and open to traffic again.

E Burnside Street is closed at 78th Ave after a two-vehicle crash. At 2:45 PM, a car and pickup collided in the intersection, flipping the truck and its two passengers completely over. The truck landed upright on SE 78th Ave, where it caught fire. Portland Fire & Rescue responded by 2:53 PM, extinguishing the fire and providing medical aid to the injured.

All people involved in the crash were able to walk away from the accident. Expect traffic delays on E Burnside Street and 78th Ave while crews clear the crash debris and tow the disabled vehicles.

Community, Infrastructure January 29, 2021

Glisan Crossing Light Repaired at 78th

This week, Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) crews replaced the pedestrian crossing signal on NE Glisan Street at 78th Ave. The light sustained damage the previous week due to a vehicle collision at the intersection. No serious injuries were reported.

ACCIDENT – UNKNOWN INJURY at 7700 BLOCK NE GLISAN ST, PORT [Portland Police #PP21000020567] 22:03 #pdx911
— Portland Police log (@pdxpolicelog) January 23, 2021

The incident occurred at 11:43 pm on January 22nd, 2021. Based on skid marks and the direction of bent mounting bolts, the vehicle was traveling east. Tire marks on top of the pedestrian safety island indicate the automobile drove in the center lane before colliding with the signal pole. An oil spill located in the intersection shows where the damaged vehicle came to a stop after the accident.

*A traffic cone protects wiring exposed by the removed single pole*

This intersection is dangerous for pedestrians trying to cross NE Glisan. Both PBPOT and the Portland Police Bureau have coordinated on crosswalk enforcement actions at this intersection before. However, collisions continue to be an issue on this section of NE Glisan Street. Fortunately, the signal is replaced and functional again. Although not perfect, the flashing lights give pedestrians crossing Glisan some added protection.

*Oil absorbent power coating site of vehicle collision*

Demolition, Infrastructure June 25, 2020October 3, 2020

Bus Stop Destroyed in Crash

The TriMet bus stop on the northeast corner of Burnside and 82nd Ave was destroyed in a crash today. The bus stop shelter and crosswalk signal pole are knocked off their mounts. This bus stop serves the 20 bus line. Bus service has not been disrupted at this stop, although glass and other debris is spread around the area.

Cars To Go operates the automotive sales lot on the corner behind the bus shelter. A car being displayed at Cars To Go shows signs of damage.

UPDATE – We posted this story on reddit, looking for eye-witnesses to the crash. Two people reported seeing a SUV involved in the accident. One poster reported the time of crash as 4:30 PM on Thursday, June 25th. That same person posted images of the crash with the SUV involved in the collision. Accounts of the incident, indicate the driver was not seriously injured.