Portland Drunk Driving Accidents 2023
1. An 11-year-old was tragically killed in Portland when a sedan collided with a drunk driver who had gunshot wounds.
2. Two women are facing charges of drunk driving after being involved in two wrong-way crashes on I-5 in Portland.
3. Driver charged with manslaughter and DUI after fatal early-morning crash on Southwest Barbur Boulevard.
4. A teenage driver has been charged with DUI after colliding with a patrol vehicle in NE Portland.
5. A driver has been charged with manslaughter and DUI following a single-car crash where a passenger was killed in North Portland.
6. A PGE worker was arrested for DUI after causing a crash that resulted in the removal of a utility pole.
7. A car driven by a drunk driver in Portland collided with a motorhome, resulting in an explosion.
8. The driver was charged with DUI and reckless driving after crashing into a sports car worth $250,000.
9. The tragic accident at the intersection of E Burnside and 82nd Avenue, involving alcohol, claims the life of an innocent pedestrian.
10. Two individuals lost their lives in an alcohol-involved car accident on the Morrison Bridge viaduct, causing the vehicle to plunge onto Southeast Water Avenue.
An 11-year-old was fatally injured in a car collision in Portland involving a sedan and a driver under the influence with gunshot wounds.
In July 2023, an 11-year-old boy named Ryan Ambrose lost his life in a car accident in Portland, Oregon. Ambrose was a passenger in a car being operated by a family member. The car was hit from the side by a driver who was reportedly under the influence of alcohol and had been shot in his arm and leg.
The driver was exceeding the speed limit on Southeast 102nd Avenue and Southeast Washington Street and driving erratically. Police arrived to find two crashed vehicles, one of which had rolled over. The young victim was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead hours later. [1]
Two women are facing charges of drunk driving after being involved in two wrong-way crashes on I-5 in Portland.
On February 4, 2023, two women were involved in wrong-way crashes on I-5 in Portland, Oregon. Both women were suspected of driving under the influence and were subsequently charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI).
The first crash occurred when one of the women drove southbound in the northbound lanes of I-5 near the Rose Quarter. The woman was traveling at a high rate of speed and smashed into two vehicles. The impact caused one vehicle to spin out of control and the other vehicle to become disabled. A family of five was inside one of those vehicles.
The second crash occurred sometime later when another woman drove northbound in the southbound lanes and collided with another vehicle. Both women were cited for DUI and reckless endangerment. [2]
The driver has been charged with manslaughter and DUI following a fatal crash on Southwest Barbur Boulevard in the early morning.
A devastating two-vehicle crash unfolded on Southwest Barbur Boulevard on July 21, 2023, resulting in a road closure for hours. The Portland Police Bureau reported that one of the drivers has been arrested on manslaughter charges.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the driver of a silver 2011 Toyota Scion was traveling over the speed limit without headlights shortly after 1:30 a.m. The Toyota collided with a silver 2011 Honda Odyssey minivan, causing both vehicles to spin into an exterior wall. Inside the Toyota were three adult men. Tragically, one of the passengers lost his life despite lifesaving efforts, while another passenger sustained serious injuries but is expected to survive. The driver was treated and subsequently arrested.
Impairment, high speed, and lack of visibility were all contributing factors to this heartbreaking crash. The driver of the Toyota, identified as 26-year-old Espoir M. Kaneke, faces charges of first-degree manslaughter, driving under the influence of intoxicants, and reckless driving. [3]
A teenage driver has been charged with DUI after colliding with a patrol vehicle in NE Portland.
In the early hours of Saturday morning on Aug. 5, 2023, a concerning incident occurred in northeast Portland. Two Portland police officers, while responding to a call, were struck by a teenager suspected to be driving under the influence.
Just before 1 a.m., the officers were in a patrol vehicle on Northeast Glisan Street just west of Northeast 108th Avenue. At that section of the road, NE Glisan St. is reduced to one lane going Westbound, with the other part designated for parking. The patrol vehicle was hit by the car attempting to pass on the right.
Following the collision, the officers checked on the occupants of the car. Thankfully, the driver and passenger were not injured. However, the driver displayed signs of intoxication. The 17-year-old driver was subsequently taken into custody and processed for DUI. [4]
The driver is facing charges of manslaughter and DUI after a single-car crash in North Portland resulted in the death of a passenger
The passenger who was killed has been identified following a single-car crash in North Portland early Sunday morning. The driver has been charged with manslaughter and driving under the influence.
At around 1 a.m., North Portland officers responded to a crash near the intersection of North Columbia Boulevard and North Oregonian Avenue, as reported by the Portland Police Bureau. Despite the efforts of paramedics, a passenger identified as 18-year-old McKenzie Libro was declared deceased at the scene on Tuesday.
The 18-year-old driver, Eleice G. Muldoon, was arrested and booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of negligent homicide, manslaughter in the second degree, DUI, reckless driving, and criminal mischief in the second degree. [5]
A PGE worker was arrested for driving under the influence after causing a crash that led to the removal of a utility pole.
In a recent incident, a Portland General Electric worker was arrested for driving under the influence after crashing into a utility pole. Deputies discovered a sheared-off pole and utility lines across the roadway, leading to a subsequent crash.
According to police reports, the PGE worker was driving his company vehicle when he lost control and veered off into a light pole, causing it to be uprooted. The worker continued to drive without stopping as liquid leaked from his vehicle. His vehicle was found in the ditch some miles down the road and the driver reported having swerved to avoid a traffic collision. He was arrested for driving under the influence (with a blood alcohol content of 0.16%) and reckless driving.
The PGE vehicle sustained significant damage and had to be towed away from the scene of the accident. No other vehicles were involved in the crash and no other injuries were reported. [6]
A collision occurred in Portland involving a car driven by a drunk driver and a motor home, leading to an explosion.
In a harrowing incident, an alleged drunk driver from Portland crashed his SUV into a motorhome in Damascus, leading to a propane tank explosion. The incident occurred at the intersection of Southeast 190th Drive and Southeast Tillstrom Road.
The driver, Mario Apolinar Quinonez Verduzco, lost control of his vehicle, damaging powerlines, a utility pole, and a fence before colliding with the motorhome. As the vehicle struck, a propane tank exploded, causing a fire.
Quinonez Verduzco fled the scene on foot as the fire grew larger. Fortunately, the blaze was extinguished before spreading further. The homeowner and his dog emerged unharmed.
Deputies later apprehended Quinonez Verduzco about half a mile from the crash. A breath test revealed a blood alcohol content above the legal limit, and he was taken into custody. [7]
The driver was issued a citation for drunk and reckless driving following a collision involving a $250,000 sports car.
On Nov. 13th, 2023, police in Portland were alerted to a single-vehicle crash involving an expensive sports car. The driver who caused the crash of a $250,000 McLaren 720S sports car into a Portland office building on Sunday was cited for drunken and reckless driving, according to authorities.
According to Portland Police Bureau spokesperson Mike Benner, 28-year-old Krishna Kumar was not arrested due to being hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after the crash. [8]
The intersection of E Burnside and 82nd Avenue, involving alcohol, was the scene of a fatal accident resulting in the loss of a pedestrian's life.
On October 21, 2023, East Precinct officers responded to a crash at East Burnside Street at Northeast 82nd Avenue. A pedestrian and a vehicle were involved. Upon arrival, officers discovered a deceased pedestrian who has now been identified as James Fenimore.
The minivan involved in the crash sustained significant damage after colliding with a utility pole. The driver of the minivan suffered severe injuries. Portland Fire & Rescue successfully extricated the driver, who was then transported by AMR to the hospital. The driver’s injuries are believed to be life-threatening.
The driver, Vichea Pok, 39, has been cited for manslaughter in the first degree, DUI, and reckless driving. Speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in the crash. [9]
Two people died in an alcohol-related car accident on the Morrison Bridge viaduct, causing the vehicle to fall onto Southeast Water Avenue.
On June 4, 2023, two vehicles collided head-on on the Morrison Bridge on a warm summer evening. Witnesses observed the vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed before the collision, and it is believed that speed and alcohol played a role in the crash. There are no signs of any other vehicles being involved.
As a result of the crash, one vehicle veered off the bridge and landed on Southeast Water Avenue below. Both drivers were declared deceased at the scene due to the seriousness of their injuries. It is believed that speed and alcohol were contributing factors in the crash. There are no other vehicles suspected to be involved. [10]
If you or a loved one has been injured in a drunk-driving motor vehicle accident & need an experienced auto accident lawyer in Portland, contact Goldberg & Loren by calling 1-888-522-0335 for a free consultation. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries.
Sources:
[1] De Dios | Oregonian/OregonLive, A. (2023, July 14). 11-year-old killed in Portland when drunk driver with gunshot wounds T-bones sedan, police say. Oregonlive. https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2023/07/portland-11-year-old-killed-when-drunk-driver-with-gunshot-wounds-t-bones-sedan-police-say.html
[2] Two Wrong Way Drunk Drivers Crash on I-5 in South Portland (Photo). (n.d.). Portland Police. https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/news/read.cfm?id=452736
[3] Fatal Crash. (n.d.). https://www.kgw.com/. Retrieved July 21, 2023, from https://www.kgw.com/article/traffic/fatal-crash-sw-barbur-blvd-closed/283-ce43f2ff-2f2f-4913-b7be-22e3457cbd38
[4] Staff, F. (2023, August 5). Teen driver charged with DUII after smashing into patrol vehicle in NE Portland. https://www.kptv.com/2023/08/05/officers-patrol-vehicle-hit-by-allegedly-drunk-teen-driver-ne-portland
[5] Staff, F. (2023, December 26). Passenger killed in single-car crash in N. Portland named by police. https://www.kptv.com/2023/12/26/passenger-killed-single-car-crash-n-portland-named-by-police/
[6] PGE worker arrested for DUI after tearing out utility pole in crash. (2023, February 26). Opb. https://www.opb.org/article/2023/02/26/portland-utility-vehicle-crash-drunk-driving-oregon/
[7] Drunk driver smashes into Damascus motorhome, causes propane explosion. (n.d.). Pampelin Media Group . Retrieved August 15, 2023, from https://www.theoutlookonline.com/news/drunk-driver-smashes-into-damascus-motorhome-causes-propane-explosion/article_ef3410fc-3bb7-11ee-810a-63883abe03e9.html#
[8] Driver cited for drunk, reckless driving after crashing $250K sports car. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2023, from https://www.koin.com/news/crashes/driver-cited-for-drunk-reckless-driving-after-crashing-250k-sports-car/
[9] Staff, K. (2023, October 24). Portland man charged with manslaughter after fatal pedestrian crash on East Burnside. KATU. https://katu.com/news/local/portland-man-charged-with-manslaughter-after-fatal-pedestrian-crash-on-east-burnside
[10] Staff, F., & Kim, S. (2023, June 4). 2 men dead after car drives off Morrison Bridge in Portland. https://www.kptv.com/2023/06/04/2-dead-crash-off-morrison-bridge-portland/
