Here’s why ‘Vision Zero’ hopes for ‘no vehicular deaths’ this year have faded, as these outer East Portland smashups – only two days apart – result in a fatality, a cop car smashed up and officer injured, and DUII arrests …
Twice in two days, the Portland Police Bureau Major Crash Team is called out to investigate major crashes.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Two motor vehicle accidents – one on November 12 that caused a death on the freeway; the other on November 14, which ended up with a man being arrested for tussling with Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers — made for a violent week in the Argay Terrace and Parkrose neighborhoods.
Woman critically injured in I-84 crash dies
Due to the seriousness of the injuries in this wreck, the PPB Major Crash Team investigates, closing I-84 westbound at NE 181st Avenue. PPB image
On Friday, November 12, at 10:36 p.m., PPB North Precinct officers were dispatched to a crash on westbound I-84 at over NE 122nd Avenue where an adult female was reportedly critically injured.
“Emergency medical first-responders prepared the woman to be taken to a local hospital by ambulance, with life threatening injuries,” a PPB spokesperson reported. “Preliminary information is the injured person had been driving a car, was involved in a crash, got out of her car, and then was struck by a two vehicles.”
Members of the PPB Major Crash Team investigate how a person, on foot, was struck next to I-84.
On November 15, PPB officials revealed that 37-year-old Carrie Lynn Simons had died of her injures after being struck by two vehicles beside the freeway, after being rushed to a local hospital.
If anyone has information about this incident, please reference Case No. 21-317369 and contact crimetips@portlandoregon.gov; in the Subject line, write “Attention: Traffic Investigations Unit”, or, call (503) 823-2103.
Alleged drunk driver collides with police cruiser; then, irate neighbor arrested for assault during the investigation
After a car speeds across NE Sandy Boulevard, it crashes into a PPB cruiser at NE Prescott Street. PPB image
What started out as a tragic, near-fatal motor vehicle accident, on the western edge of the Parkrose neighborhood, took a bizarre twist on Sunday evening, November 14.
Responding to an urgent dispatch, a PPB North Precinct officer raced with flashing lights and siren along NE Sandy Boulevard. At 11:19 p.m., a driver was leaving a parking lot of an establishment on Sandy Boulevard and attempted to cross all lanes of travel in order to head west on NE Prescott Street when it collided with the police cruiser.
A PPB cruiser was crushed in this collision. PPB image
“The officer’s patrol vehicle after the impact continued down Sandy Blvd, hitting and knocking down a utility pole, before coming to a rest,” a PPB official reported. “The officer and the other driver were taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
“The driver of the other vehicle, 51-year-old Bonnie L. Harvey of Portland, was issued a citation for DUII and Reckless Driving.”
Impatient neighbor near this crash arrested for assault, during the investigation
Officers responding to the crash involving the police cruiser and a woman leaving a bar are startled when, nearby, an “impatient driver” reportedly drove his car into a group of people.
During the crash investigation involving the squad car on NE Sandy Boulevard, investigating officers were still talking to witness on the sidewalk near a residential driveway, when an irate driver pulled up yelling at everyone to move and to get off of his property.
According to the police report, the impatient driver then drove his car into the group of six people standing there – three officers, and three community members – smashing into an officer with his vehicle, while the others jumped out of the way.
“The driver was then uncooperative when officers told him he was under arrest,” an official remarked. “The officers [at the scene] had a brief struggle with the driver, as they tried to take him into custody. Additionally, an electronic control weapon [Taser] was used against the driver during this incident.”
Facing two Felony and multiple Misdemeanor charges for allegedly driving into officers and neighbors is 46-year-old Paul Daniel Dillon. MCDC booking photo
The driver of the second incident, 46 year-old Paul Daniel Dillon, was arrested and booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) on November 25 at 6:12 a.m. on charges of DUII, Reckless Driving, and Resisting Arrest.
After results of this investigation came in, at his arraignment Dillon learned that he’d be facing additional charges, including Felony charges of Assault in the Second Degree, two counts of Attempted Assault in the Second Degree, Escape in the Third Degree, six counts of Reckless Endangerment, three counts of Driving while Under the Influence of Intoxicants, and Reckless Driving.
Currently Dillon is still in custody the MCDC in lieu of $312,500 combined bail.
© 2021 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
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