Reward offered for driver who ran down Centennial teen

Read the details of this case, and you’ll see why Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information in solving it …

Portland Police come to investigate and accident that left a teenager laying injured, in the mud – and the vehicle that struck him nowhere to be found.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Sunday evening, October 27, might have been just another night, when 19-year-old Kenton Lett was walking home in the Centennial neighborhood.

But, at 8:34 p.m., all that changed when a vehicle careened into him, and then sped off.

An ambulance crews scoops up injured teenager Kenton Lett, and then he’s rushed to the hospital with injuries caused by a hit-and-run driver.

“Lett was walking north along along SE 148^th Avenue, from Rhine Court toward SE Powell Boulevard,” recounted Portland Police Bureau Public Information Officer Sgt. Pete Simpson. “He was struck by a northbound car driven by an unknown person. Witnesses told police that the car stopped momentarily, then left the area – continuing northbound on SE 148th Avenue.”

Paramedics performed an on-scene medical assessment, and then took Lett to a Portland hospital. “He was treated for multiple facial and leg injuries,” Simpson said.

Now, in addition to coping with cerebral palsy, the young man is recuperating at home, dealing with a leg broken in two places, a broken jaw – his jaw is wired closed – and lost three teeth, according to his mother, Dawn Lett.

Both mother and son have similar sentiments about the incident.

“I can’t imagine hitting a person and then not even stopping to see if they’re alive,” the mother told reporters. She added that if a friend hadn’t been walking with him, he might have been lying there for “quite some time” before help was summoned.

Hit-and-run victim Kenton Lett tells reporters he wants to see the driver that struck him down – and drove off – is brought to justice.

“If whoever hit me confesses,” Kenton said, “He’ll be in a lot less trouble than if the police find him.”

Nonetheless, he said, “I want him to get caught.”

Simpson said the vehicle is described as “a dark-colored older sedan, possibly an Oldsmobile or Buick.”
Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information, reported to Crime Stoppers, that leads to an arrest in this case, or any unsolved felony. You can remain anonymous.
Leave a Crime Stoppers tip online at their website: CLICK HERE to open the tip page. Or, call text CRIMES (274637) and in the subject line put 823HELP, followed by your tip, or call 503-823-HELP (4357) and leave your tip information.

If you have direct information this case, contact PPB Officer Erik Koppang at Portland Police Bureau at (503) 823-2216 or erik.koppang@portlandoregon.gov.

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