INCLUDES AFTERMATH VIDEO | See how two serious crashes on opposite sides of East Portland – one a nearly head-on collision on SE Foster Road, the other a deadly late-night hit-and-run in Wilkes – unfolded within hours of each other …
Portland Police Bureau officers are called to investigate two crashes; one with injuries, and later, a hit-and-run crash the left a man dead.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
On the same day in outer East Portland a suspected impatient driver caused a nearly head-on crash on SE Foster Road in Foster in Mt. Scott-Arleta that sent both motorists to hospitals – and, hours later, a hit-and-run driver killed a pedestrian on NE Siskiyou Court in Wilkes.
April 16
Head-on crash hospitalizes both drivers
S.E. Foster Road is closed off to Thursday afternoon traffic after two cars collide, nearly head-on, near 73rd Avenue.
An afternoon crash in the Mt. Scott–Arleta neighborhood sent both drivers to the hospital on Thursday, after an apparent burst of impatience on SE Foster Road led to an offset head-on collision.
The wreck took place just after 3:00 p.m. on April 16th, at the intersection of SE Foster Road and SE 73rd Avenue.
Here’s a brief video that shows the aftermath of this smashup:
At 3:08 p.m., Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) Lents Station 11’s Engine Company was dispatched to the crash, and arrived within about two minutes.
Two ambulances were also sent; they rolled up roughly ten minutes later and soon took patients to hospitals for medical evaluation and treatment.
Witness: Driver “gunned the engine” into turning SUV
The driver of this Buick was speeding westbound on S.E. Foster Road, a witness said, before smashing into a vehicle in the left-hand turn lane.
A construction worker who had been inside an apartment building under construction along SE Foster Road said he stepped outside just before the crash happened, and watched it unfold from the corner at SE 73rd Avenue.
He told East Portland News that an eastbound Honda CR‑V on Foster Road slowed and moved into the left-turn lane, apparently to turn north onto 73rd Avenue.
At the same time, he said, the driver of a westbound Buick LeSabre appeared frustrated while waiting for pedestrians to clear the crosswalk at SE 74th Avenue.
Offset head-on crash disables both vehicles
This Honda is severely disabled after being in an offset head-on crash.
According to the worker, once the pedestrians had nearly cleared, it sounded like the Buick’s driver “gunned the engine,” accelerated hard, and then swerved into the path of the Honda.
The result was an offset head-on crash that crumpled the driver’s-side front corner of both vehicles, leaving them undrivable in the roadway – and scattering debris into the traffic lanes.
Fire crew, construction workers manage traffic
The paramedics riding with PF&R Lents Station 11’s Engine Company quickly shut down the eastbound lanes of SE Foster Road, using the engine to block traffic while they checked on the drivers.
Construction workers from the nearby jobsite stepped in to help on the other side of the street, using safety cones and yellow tape to block westbound traffic, and keep vehicles away from the crash scene.
PF&R paramedics said both drivers were transported by ambulance to local hospitals.
Firefighters and construction crew workers provide “traffic control” in the crash area until police arrive.
For a time after the collision, Portland Police Bureau (PPB) units had not yet arrived, leaving firefighters and construction workers to handle traffic control around the wrecked vehicles. That raised concern about what might happen if Engine 11 were called away to another emergency.
“If there’s a fire, we’ll have to leave and go to that call,” mused Engine 11’s Lieutenant, while monitoring the blocked-off lanes and after patients were loaded into ambulances.
This major outer East Portland thoroughfare is closed down for hours, forcing drivers onto side streets, while the crash is investigated.
At 3:58 p.m., a PPB East Precinct officer arrived. Police then took over traffic control, and began investigating the crash, documenting the scene and the positions of the vehicles.
If you have information about this collision, and have not yet spoken with investigators, email details to crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, attention Traffic Investigations Unit, and refer to Case No. 26-109382.
April 17
Hit-and-run driver kills pedestrian in Wilkes
Officers close down NE 148th Avenue was closed between NE Fremont Street and NE Siskiyou Court after a male pedestrian dies in a hit-and run accident.
Several hours after the Foster Road crash, another serious incident took place across town in the Wilkes neighborhood – this one with even more tragic consequences.
On Thursday, April 16 at 11:12 p.m., PPB North Precinct officers responded to a report of a person “down on pavement” at the dead-end street, NE Siskiyou Court, just east of NE 148th Avenue.
Officers and EMS arrived and paramedics determined that the person, who appears to be an adult male, was deceased at the scene. Preliminary evidence suggests that he was hit by a vehicle, but investigators have not yet revealed the type of suspected vehicle. The driver did not remain at the scene.
Setting for their investigation members of the PPB’s Traffic Division Major Crash Team look for evidence in this deadly crash.
The PPB’s Traffic Division Major Crash Team responded to the scene to investigate the crash. Into the night, during the investigation, NE 148th Avenue was closed between Fremont Street and Siskiyou Court.
Again, if you have information about this crash e-mail crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, attention Traffic Investigations Unit, and reference Case No. 26-109874.
© 2026 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
