UPDATED | Learn more about these two fatal pedestrian accidents this week – both of them in outer East Portland – and about eight hours apart. One driver, charged with Criminally Negligent Homicide, is already out of jail …
Within eight hours, and just 1.6 miles, two men crossing a street are hit and killed by vehicles, in outer East Portland.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
In about an eight hour period of time, from Sunday evening February 4 into the early hours of Monday, February 5, two pedestrians were killed by vehicles in two different outer East Portland locations.
February 4 – UPDATED
Man killed crossing Woodstock Boulevard,
in Lents
Where the eastbound couplet of SE Woodstock Boulevard curves to join Foster road, near a convenience store, a man is stuck and killed by a vehicle – in Lents Town Center. Courtesy KGW-8 News
Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct officers were dispatched to this ‘Accident—Injury” report on February 4 at 5:44 p.m. – in the 9700 block of SE Foster Road, on the east side of Lents Town Center.
In actuality, the investigation took place along Woodstock Boulevard – the eastbound couplet just east of SE. 97th Avenue. Arriving officers found a dead adult man in the road.
“I got here just after it happened; I couldn’t tell if the guy walking across the street to the 7-Eleven story, or away from it,” a neighbor disclosed to East Portland News, as the investigation got underway. “Coming around the curve, if he was in the road, I don’t see how a driver could have avoided hitting him.”
The PPB’s Major Crash Team responds to the crash and takes over the investigation.
Portland Police officials said that the driver of that vehicle remained at the crash scene, and was cooperating with investigators.
UPDATE
On February 13, the PPB provided this information: The pedestrian who died in this crash has been identified as 71-year-old Thomas Amato, of Portland.
Anyone with information on this incident and who has not yet spoken to police is asked to email crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, attention: Traffic Investigations Unit, and refer to Case No. 24-28406.
February 5 – UPDATED
Driver found and arrested in Brentwood-Darlington hit-and-run crash
Again, the PPB’s Major Crash Team is called out to investigate another fatal crash killing a pedestrian – this one a hit-and-run.
About eight hours later, on February 5 at 2:17 a.m., PPB East Precinct officers responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. This one was located along SE 82nd Avenue of Roses, near Flavel Street, in the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood.
As they pulled in, officers spotted a dead adult man in the street – in this one, the driver did not remain for the police, but instead sped away.
Portland Police crash investigators again set up their equipment to document the death scene.
Through the wee hours, the PPB’s Major Crash Team investigated the accident, closing down the area of SE 82nd Avenue of Roses in the vicinity of Flavel.
A day later, Portland Police revealed that – not long after the crash – they’d located and arrested the driver who’d left the scene.
26-year-old Skyler Holbrooke Lee-Stiles is appears in court. Courtesy KOIN-6 News
Officers booked 26-year-old Skyler Holbrooke Lee-Stiles, of Portland, into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) on February 5 at 2:51 p.m. – on charges of Criminally Negligent Homicide, Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver (Death), and Tampering with Evidence. Lee-Stiles’ vehicle was seized as evidence in the case.
Through the course of the investigation, officers determined Lee-Stiles had been illegally speeding through a work zone when he struck the pedestrian, who was crossing 82nd Avenue of roses in the middle of a block.
Facing Felony and Misdemeanor charges – a but free on bail
At his arraignment, Lee-Stiles learned he’d be facing three Felony charges: Manslaughter in the Second Degree, Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver (Death), and Criminally Negligent Homicide; as well as three Misdemeanor charges: Recklessly Endangering (highway) Workers, Reckless Endangerment, and Tampering with Evidence.
Although Lee-Stiles will be called to face these serious charges in court at some time in the future, he made bail and was released from custody, back into our community, on February 7.
UPDATE:
On February 16, officials revealed that the man killed in this hit-and-run crash was 44-year-old Edward Hanson.
If you have information on this incident, and have not yet spoken to police, email it to crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, attention: Traffic Investigations Unit, and make reference to Case No. 24-28665.
© 2024 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
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