Witnesses who saw the accident from various angles are disagreeing about exactly how it occurred …
Paramedics stabilizes the victim’s head and spine, moments after the accident takes place.
Story and photo by David F. Ashton
People who say they witnessed the collision in East Portland between a truck and a pedestrian about 5:45 p.m. on March 20 didn’t agree about why it took place.
But, witnesses did concur that the result of the incident could have been worse.
A paramedic takes vital signs, and questions the victim about her condition.
The victim was crossing SE 72nd Avenue on SE Flavel Street. A white GMC truck was westbound on SE Flavel Street, waiting in the left-hand turn lane for traffic to clear. As the driver turned southbound on SE 72nd Avenue, he struck the victim, who was in – or near – the crosswalk.
One witness said the victim appeared to be wearing headphones; another contradicted that assertion, and said she was carrying them, along with a notebook and a small grocery bag.
Witnesses also disagreed about whether the victim accidently stepped into the path of the oncoming SUV.
The pedestrian is secured on a backboard, and made ready for transport.
Police and AMR paramedics arrived on-scene almost simultaneously, quickly followed by Portland Fire & Rescue Engine 11. The victim was speaking and gesturing to emergency responders while being prepared for transport to Providence Medical Center’s Emergency Department.
“It appeared to be a low-speed collision that knocked over the pedestrian,” said a Portland Police Bureau East Precinct district officer at the scene.
After being lifted onto the gurney, the patient is loaded into the ambulance and taken to an area hospital.
The driver of the GMC stayed on scene and spoke with officers; whether or not he received a citation is unknown.
© 2014 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News
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