Discover what investigators revealed about the vehicle involved in this serious collision in Powellhurst-Gilbert …
S. E. 136th Avenue is closed by Portland Police Bureau officers after a serious traffic collision in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers, firefighters and paramedics were dispatched by the Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications on Monday, September 21, 2026, at 4:27 p.m., to an “Injury-Accident” at S. E. 136th Avenue near Cora Street in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood of outer East Portland.
Sunny afternoon crash at S. E. 136th Avenue
By the time East Portland News arrived, clouds had cleared, leaving a sunny, dry afternoon at the crash scene along S. E. 136th Avenue. Six PPB officers had been assigned to the incident.
Near the middle of the Avenue, facing southbound, stood a TriMet LIFT vehicle – a specialized, accessible transport option used for TriMet’s LIFT Paratransit service – with a noticeable dent on the front passenger-side bumper.
Walking up to the incident scene, a damaged motorized scooter and the TriMet LIFT vehicle remain where they came to rest after the collision on S. E. 136th Avenue in Powellhurst-Gilbert.
At the western curb rested a powered scooter-type vehicle: essentially a motorized footboard with a pole and a seat attached.
An ambulance crew had already taken the adult male rider to a local hospital. Nearby, the TriMet LIFT driver spoke with an officer, while a TriMet supervisor observed the interaction and consulted with investigators.
Investigators have not revealed details of the crash that ended with this TriMet LIFT vehicle showing a large dent on its front passenger-side bumper.
Initial police information on the crash
According to information provided by PPB Public Information Manager Mike Benner, both Portland Fire & Rescue paramedic crews and PPB East Precinct officers responded to the report of a bicycle crash in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood shortly after the call came in.
Benner confirmed that the collision involved a TriMet LIFT vehicle and a male rider of a two-wheeled vehicle in the 4300 block of S. E. 136th Avenue.
The scooter lies in the street as officers continue their investigation of this serious collision on S. E. 136th Avenue in Powellhurst-Gilbert.
“Officers found the rider suffering from life-threatening injuries,” Benner revealed. “The adult male was taken by ambulance to a local hospital for emergency care.”
Benner indicated that the TriMet driver remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. The Portland Police Traffic Division responded to take over the inquiry.
During the investigation, S. E. 136th Avenue was closed in both directions between Center Street and Cora Street, while officers documented the scene, interviewed witnesses and examined the vehicles involved.
An investigating officer speaks with the TriMet LIFT driver at the crash scene on S. E. 136th Avenue in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood.
Vehicle type clarified
After East Portland News observed that the crash-involved device at the curb looked like a scooter rather than a traditional bicycle, we followed up with Benner about the type of vehicle the injured man had been operating.
Upon further review, PPB updated the official information to reflect that the injured adult male had been riding a modified motorized two-wheel scooter, and not a bicycle as initially reported. Investigators did not release additional details about the scooter or any contributing factors in the crash.
At this time, PPB has indicated that no further information will be released while the investigation remains active. If you have information, and haven’t yet spoken with investigators, e-mail crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, Attn: Traffic Division, and reference Case No. 26-276823.
© 2026 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
