Mystery shrouds case of pedestrian struck in Hazelwood hit-and-run

Here’s what’s been learned about an accident that left a pedestrian seriously injured on SE 122nd Avenue, near Woodword Place, on Monday night …

While police investigate an accident in which a pedestrian was seriously injured in a hit-and-run on SE 122nd Avenue at Woodward Place, the intersection is completely closed off.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

What took place is a matter of record: On Monday, February 9, at 10:28 p.m., Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct officers were sent to SE 122nd Avenue and Woodward Place after the report of an injury hit-and-run.

On the east side of SE 122nd Avenue, a PPB Traffic Division officer searches for evidence near SE Woodward Place.

The marked pedestrian crossing at this intersection is protected by a regular traffic signal – not “winky-blink” yellow flashing lights.

Officers arrived to find a pedestrian seriously injured. Paramedics arrived and took the victim to an area hospital. However, the driver of the vehicle involved was nowhere to be found.

A score (that’s 20) of PPB officers arrived in the Hazelwood neighborhood as the crash investigation got underway.

It didn’t take long for twenty officers to respond to the dispatch. During the investigation, SE 122nd Avenue was completely shut down from SE Clinton Street to Woodward Place.

PPB Traffic Division officers came to investigate the crime. But, because this wasn’t a fatal incident, the Major Crash Unit wasn’t called to the scene

What was unclear was whether the pedestrian-activated street-crossing traffic signal had actually been activated for the crossing – or if a suspect vehicle had been identified. Even if the signal had not been activated, the incident still turns into a major crime when the involved driver leaves the scene of an injury accident,

For reasons unknown, multiple PPB vehicles congregate along in a half-block area of SE 119th Avenue, just north of SE Clinton Street.

Even more curious, when we saw three PPB patrol vehicles and two Traffic Division motorcycles parked – closing off SE 119th Avenue, between the shopping center back vehicle entrance and SE Clinton Street – long after SE 122nd Avenue was reopened to traffic, we asked the Bureau to explain the lingering officer presence.

“[There is] no further information to share at this time,” PPB Public Information Manager Mike Benner replied to East Portland News.

If you have information about this incident, and haven’t already spoken to police, please e-mail crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, attn: TIU, and make reference to Case No. 26-40057.

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