‘Careless driver’ hits and kills a pedestrian in Powellhurst-Gilbert

Here’s what officials are saying about this deadly early-Wednesday-morning fatality on SE Division Street, in which the driver was cited for ‘Careless Driving’ …

Just after sunrise, Portland Police Bureau officers are called to the “Powellhurst-Gilbert” side of SE Division Street when a person was struck and killed by a vehicle. Courtesy KPTV FOX-12 Oregon

By David F. Ashton

Although the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) spent $8.4 million to “improve” SE Division Street – the boundary between the Hazelwood and Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhoods – improvements cannot always deter bad driving, and fatal wrecks keep taking place.

The most recent deadly encounter took place early on Wednesday, December 4, at SE 109th Avenue, near the location of the Russian Roman Market.

Huge, raised “pedestrian islands” and crosswalks on SE Division Street didn’t prevent this fatal collision. Courtesy KGW-TV 8 News

Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct officers, who were dispatched to the scene this “Accident, Injury” incident at 7:02 a.m. discovered a crash involving one vehicle and a pedestrian.

“Unfortunately, the pedestrian died at the scene,” reported PPB Public Information Officer Sgt. Kevin Allen. “The driver remained at the crash site and is cooperating with police.”

This major outer East Portland thoroughfare is closed down as police investigate another fatal crash on SE Division Street. Courtesy KPTV FOX-12 Oregon

Morning drivetime traffic was disrupted as the PPB’s Traffic Division Major Crash Team arrived to investigate the fatal mishap.

Then, on December 5th, Allen revealed that 75-year-old Hong Huynh was the person been killed in the accident. “The driver involved in the crash, 38-year-old April M. Oneal, of Scappoose, was cited for Careless Driving,” Sgt. Allen later stated.

If you have information about this incident, e-mail to crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov; attn: Traffic Investigations Unit, and reference Case No. 24-309734.

This is the 67th traffic-related fatality in Portland during 2024 – further setting back the objectives of PBOT’s Vision Zero program.

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