Woman slain by suspected drunk driver on NE Marine Drive

Officials say speed, and alcohol intoxication, were factors in this outer East Portland fatal crash. The suspect bailed out of jail the day she was arrested …

NE Marine Drive is closed both directions between 33rd and 122nd Avenues as the Portland Police Traffic Division’s Major Crash Team investigates the fatal smashup.

By David F. Ashton

NE Marine Drive, especially where it parallels the runways of Portland International Airport, continues to be a hot spot for serious, many fatal, smashups — like the one on Friday evening, February 23rd.

Portland Police Bureau (PPB) North Precinct officers were summoned at 11:25 p.m. to investigate a two-vehicle crash in the 7000 block of NE Marine Drive, abut midway between I-205 and Broughton Beach Park.

Because it’s a two-lane road, and the crash involved a fatality, news reporters were stopped a mile away in each direction (along with all other traffic) from the scene of the incident.

Officers found that the female driver of a 2013 BMW 3-Series had been westbound on Marine Drive at a high rate of speed, and left the lane of travel and slammed into the back of a 2015 Honda Fit that was stopped on the shoulder, occupied its female driver.

The driver of the Honda was dead at the scene; the BMW’s driver was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries

The PPB Traffic Division’s Major Crash Team were called out to investigate further.

As seen from some distance away, along NE Airport Way, this crash investigation continues.

The following morning, a PPB official revealed that the driver who crashed into the parked vehicle was identified as 22-year-old Maria Isabel Moncada of Gresham.

Moncada was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) on February 24 at 6:16 a.m. on a Class A Felony charge of Manslaughter in the First Degree,and two Misdemeanor charges: Reckless Driving, and Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (Alcohol). However, Moncada was released from custody on February 26. Release Reason: Made Bail.

If you have information about this crash, and have not talked to police, please e-mail it to crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, attn: TIU and reference Case No. 24-45432.

Being 13th traffic-related fatality in the City of Portland so far in 2024, this crash impedes the objectives of the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s Vision Zero program.

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