Impaired driver jailed, after crashing SUV into cyclist in Centennial

What looked to be an injury vehicle vs. biker crash in outer East Portland turns into a Negligent Homicide charge when the elderly bicyclist dies of injuries …

A collision between a SUV and bicyclist on the edge of the Centennial neighborhood leads to the motor vehicle driver being charged with Negligent Homicide.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Late afternoon on Sunday, July 13, at 4:55 p.m., a Toyota Highlander XLE, a mid-sized SUV, struck an elderly bicyclist on SE Powell Boulevard at 145th Avenue.

Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct officers, who were dispatched at 4:59 p.m., quickly located the accident scene.

Officers close down SE Powell Boulevard, and the nearby side streets, to investigate the injury accident.

“When officers arrived, officers found an injured cyclist, identified as 85-year-old Raymond L. Myers of Portland,” a PPB spokesperson reported. “Myers was taken by ambulance to a local hospital where he was, at the time, expected to survive.”

At the location of the collision, officers call in additional investigative resources.

The involved driver, identified as 54-year-old Hiep Phuoc Tran of Portland, remained at the scene. However, officers noticed signs of intoxication, and they ultimately arrested Tran.

He was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center at 11:35 p.m. the same day on charges of Assault in the Third Degree, and Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants.

The following morning, Monday, July 14, PPB’s Major Crash Team was notified that Myers had died at the hospital. As a result of Myers’ death, at his arraignment another charge was added: the Class B Felony Negligent Homicide.

However, Tran paid the bail and was released from custody on July 15, pending his trial.

Standing in the roadway, officers discuss evidence they’ve located at the crash scene.

Should you have information about this crash and have not already spoken to police, please contact crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, attn: Traffic Investigations Unit, and refer to Case No. 25-186800.

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