UPDATED! INCLUDES FATAL CRASH INVESTIGATION VIDEO | Over four days, see the aftermaths of three crashes: One an accident; one a mystery [now solved], and one fatal …
In just a few days, officers investigate a trio of crashes in outer East Portland neighborhoods.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
While there were several motor vehicle accidents across Portland over the past weekend, three of them were here in outer East Portland.
These kept the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) Traffic Division Major Crash Team investigators on the go.
July 31
Motorcycle rider injured in Lents crash
At first, it was thought that a motorcycle was involved in a multi-vehicle smashup in Lents, along SE 92nd Avenue. But it turned out to be a one-vehicle crash.
In the late afternoon of Thursday, July 31, PPB East Precinct officers were dispatched to this injury crash at 6:23 p.m. to SE 92nd Avenue, just south of Duke Street.
Arriving officers found a Honda Gold Wing “touring” model motorcycle down in the center of the street, and the rider injured.
Upon investigation, witnesses told officers that the motorcycle rider “dumped” his bike trying avoid a collision with other vehicles.
“At first blush it looked to responding officers like a multi-vehicle crash,” PPB Public Information Manager Mike Benner told East Portland News.
“But, officers then determined that only the motorcycle was involved. The rider, an adult male, was transported to a local hospital with what were believed to be non-life-threatening injuries,” he added.
Long after the rider was taken to a hospital, his motorcycle was finally ready to be hauled away by a wrecker.
If you saw something other than what was described a rider “laying down” his motorcycle to avoid other vehicles, e-mail that information to crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov attn: Traffic Investigations Unit and refer to Case No. 25-205998.
UPDATED:
August 2 | ‘Driverless’ car plunges into Columbia River off Marine Drive
This is where, officials say, a car left NE Marine Drive near 122nd Avenue, smashed through a steel guardrail, and plunged down the embankment at the Columbia River. PPB image
Investigators with the PPB’s Major Crash Team (MCT) are still puzzling over a crash that took place near the northern borders of the Parkrose and Argay Terrace neighborhoods. They were sent to an “Accident-Injury” crash on August 2, at 8:01 a.m. – but when they got there, officers found nobody was injured … in fact, nobody was there at all.
Both PPB North Precinct and Traffic Division officers responded to 12545 NE Marine Drive, just west of 122nd Avenue.
Emergency first responders fear they’ll find badly injured crash victims, or perhaps somebody dead, in this overturned car at the edge of the Columbia River. PPB image
Arriving officers found that the guardrail was damaged and a car was over the edge, on its side, in shallow water at the edge of the Columbia River. In addition to the PPB’s MCT, Portland Fire & Rescue, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) River Patrol, and the United States Coast Guard all responded – but nobody was inside the vehicle.
They began a search for the driver and perhaps passengers, but located victims related to this crash.
Members of the Portland Airport Fire & Rescue River Patrol and Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office River Patrol search for survivors or victims in the swift waters of the Columbia River. PPB image
UPDATE:
On August 27, the PPB revealed that the driver of the vehicle had been killed in this crash.
The deceased was identified as 43-year-old Guillermo Soto Briceno, of Portland. His body was recovered from the Columbia River following the crash and identified by the Medical Examiner.
If you have information about this crash, and have not spoken to police, e-mail it to crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov attn: Traffic Investigations Unit and say it’s about Case No. 25-207638.
August 3
Pedestrian killed in Hazelwood nighttime crash
SE 122nd Avenue is closed off to all traffic at Stark Street while a car vs. pedestrian accident investigation begins.
On Sunday, August 3, at 10:06 p.m., PPB East Precinct officers responded to the report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle at the intersection of SE 122nd Avenue and Ash Street – at the edge of the TriMet Menlo Park Park-and-Ride lot.
Watch, as this fatal street crash investigation gets underway:
Officers found a “seriously injured” pedestrian in the westbound lanes of SE 122nd Avenue, about 30 feet south of Ash Street.
“Officers attempted life-saving measures, before the pedestrian was taken by paramedics to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries,” a PPB official stated at the time.
The Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division Major Crash Team van arrives.
Investigators examine the smashed-in windshield of the Acura coupe – which is said to be the car that struck the pedestrian.
The driver of the involved vehicle – an Acura 2.2CL, with its windshield smashed into checkered shards – remained at the scene, and cooperated with the investigation.
Due to the severity of the crash, the PPB’s Major Crash Team was called to investigate – and they shut down SE 122nd Avenue from East Burnside Street to Stark Street.
Members of the PPB’s Major Crash Team start up setting up their equipment.
These investigators are setting up their FARO Crash Documentation 3D laser scanner.
Soon, a total of 17 officers, command staff, and investigators, were in busy at the scene, as the investigation continued on into the night.
This PPB Forensics Division “crime scene investigator” prepares to photograph debris at the location of the impact.
On August 4, Portland Police announced that the pedestrian had died from his injuries – and, on August 5, identified the victim as 50-year-old Willie Talimao Jr. The PPB also said that the investigation revealed that Talimao had been struck while crossing SE 122nd Avenue walking from the east across the street.
When asked if Talimao was crossing mid-block, or was in the crosswalk, PPB Public Information Manager Mike Benner told East Portland News, “This investigation is ongoing, and this is not clear at this time.”
If you have information about the incident, and not talked with police, contact crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov attn: Traffic Investigations Unit and make reference to Case No. 25-209104.
This is the 19th fatal traffic crash of the year in Portland and the seventh involving a pedestrian – another setback to the objectives of the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s Vision Zero program.
© 2025 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
click here to subscribe
