15 Most Dangerous Intersections in Portland, Oregon
Portland recorded 59 fatal car accidents, 3,380 nonfatal injury crashes, and 2,991 property-damage crashes in 2021 alone (Oregon DOT 2021 Crash Summary, accessed June 2026). More than half of those crashes injured someone. Most of them clustered on a handful of streets and intersections. If you live in or drive through Portland, knowing which ones is more than trivia. It is the difference between a safe commute and a 911 call.
Key Takeaways
- 62% of Portland traffic deaths from 2018-2022 happened at intersections (Portland Bureau of Transportation Vision Zero).
- SE Powell & 82nd, SE Division & 122nd, and SE Stark & 122nd top the list by serious-injury and total-crash counts.
- 8% of Portland streets account for the majority of deadly crashes (the “High Crash Network”).
- Pedestrian deaths made up 43% of all 2021 Portland traffic fatalities, well above the 2017-2020 average of 38%.
- Oregon’s civil-claim deadline: 2 years from the date of the crash under ORS 12.110. Public-entity claims (against the City of Portland or ODOT) require notice within 180 days.
Hit at one of these intersections? Goldberg & Loren offers free, confidential reviews for Portland crash victims. Call (971) 366-2792 or request a case review.
Which Portland intersection is the deadliest?
The City of Portland and Oregon DOT tracked crashes at every major intersection from 2017 through 2021. The 15 below produced the highest combined toll of deaths, serious injuries, and total crashes (Portland Bureau of Transportation, Vision Zero Crash Report 2021, accessed June 2026; High Crash Network Streets and Intersections, accessed June 2026).
By total crashes, SE Division Street and SE 122nd Avenue tops the list with 104 reported collisions over the five-year window. By deaths, SE Stark Street and SE 122nd Avenue leads with 3 fatalities. Many of the worst-performing intersections cluster along East Portland’s 82nd and 122nd corridors and the Powell Boulevard arterial.
| Rank | Intersection | Deaths | Serious Injuries | Moderate Injuries | Minor Injuries | Total Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SE Division St & SE 122nd Ave | 1 | 1 | 6 | 80 | 104 |
| 2 | SE Stark St & SE 122nd Ave | 3 | 6 | 16 | 76 | 99 |
| 3 | SE Powell Blvd & SE 82nd Ave | 0 | 1 | 19 | 85 | 102 |
| 4 | SE Powell Blvd & SE 148th Ave | 2 | 2 | 6 | 38 | 52 |
| 5 | NE Halsey St & NE 122nd Ave | 1 | 0 | 9 | 38 | 68 |
| 6 | SE Stark St & SE 148th Ave | 1 | 1 | 10 | 49 | 57 |
| 7 | NE Glisan St & NE 82nd Ave | 0 | 7 | 12 | 47 | 69 |
| 8 | NE Glisan St & NE 122nd Ave | 0 | 4 | 8 | 68 | 87 |
| 9 | SE Division St & SE 112th Ave | 2 | 1 | 3 | 52 | 53 |
| 10 | SE Holgate Blvd & SE 92nd Ave | 1 | 1 | 6 | 27 | 39 |
| 11 | SE Powell Blvd & SE 174th Ave | 0 | 1 | 5 | 53 | 71 |
| 12 | SE Powell Blvd & SE 136th Ave | 0 | 1 | 8 | 41 | 67 |
| 13 | NE Broadway & NE Grand Ave | 1 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 45 |
| 14 | SE Powell Blvd & SE 122nd Ave | 0 | 1 | 9 | 58 | 71 |
| 15 | N Vancouver Ave & N Weidler St | 1 | 2 | 7 | 16 | 41 |
Notice the clustering. Five of the top 15 sit on Powell Boulevard. Three more are on 122nd. East Portland’s wide arterials, fast posted speeds, and limited crossing infrastructure make these intersections statistically the most dangerous in the city.
What does Portland’s High Crash Network tell us?
Portland’s High Crash Network is a Vision Zero designation for the streets and intersections producing the bulk of the city’s deadly crashes. The list is short but consequential. The 30 streets and intersections on the High Crash Network make up only 8% of Portland’s roadway miles, yet they account for 62% of all traffic deaths from 2018 to 2022 (Portland Bureau of Transportation Vision Zero, accessed June 2026).
In 2021, 60% of traffic deaths occurred on the High Crash Network, and 43% of those deaths were pedestrians, well above the 2017-2020 average of 38%. The combination of high speeds, wide turning radii, and pedestrian crossings spaced hundreds of feet apart concentrates risk in a small number of locations.
For a deeper breakdown of which streets carry the worst record, see our analysis of Portland’s High Crash Network and the broader picture of Portland’s most accident-prone areas in 2025.
What causes the most crashes at these intersections?
Oregon DOT analyzed the most common driver behaviors behind serious intersection crashes statewide (Oregon DOT, 2020 Quick Facts, accessed June 2026). The same 10 errors keep showing up in Portland crash reports year after year.
| Rank | Driver Error | Common Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Failure to avoid a stopped or parked vehicle ahead | Rear-end and chain-reaction crashes |
| 2 | Failure to yield the right-of-way | T-bone crashes at uncontrolled intersections |
| 3 | Lost control and veered off road | Single-vehicle and roadside collisions |
| 4 | Driving too fast for conditions | Loss of control in rain, fog, or low light |
| 5 | Inattention or distraction | Phone use, navigation glances, missed signal changes |
| 6 | Failure to maintain lane | Sideswipes and merge crashes |
| 7 | Left turn in front of oncoming traffic | Head-on and angle collisions, often catastrophic |
| 8 | Disregarding traffic signals | Red-light running, broadside impacts |
| 9 | Following too closely | Rear-end at stop bars and signalized intersections |
| 10 | Failure to negotiate a curve | Off-road and roll-over crashes on curved approaches |
Want the deeper breakdown? See our full guide to the top 10 driving errors in Oregon. In our experience, the left-turn-across-traffic crash is the one that produces the worst injuries at Portland intersections. Speed differential at the moment of impact is brutal.
What types of crashes happen at Portland intersections?
Approximately 62% of Portland traffic deaths from 2018-2022 occurred at intersections, with most involving angle or side-impact crashes (Portland Bureau of Transportation Vision Zero, accessed June 2026). Side-impact crashes are more likely to kill or seriously injure passengers than any other type because the side of a vehicle has the least crumple-zone protection.
The common types we see at these locations:
- T-bone (broadside) crashes — One driver runs a red light or fails to yield. Often catastrophic for the driver or passenger on the impacted side.
- Left-turn crashes — A driver turning left misjudges oncoming traffic. Frequent at signalized intersections without dedicated left-turn arrows.
- Rear-end collisions — A driver fails to stop at a red light, signal change, or stopped vehicle ahead. Most common type overall, often produces whiplash and back injuries. See our breakdown of Portland rear-end accidents.
- Pedestrian and cyclist strikes — Especially on Powell, Division, and Stark where pedestrian crossings are spaced hundreds of feet apart.
- U-turn crashes — Illegal or unsafe U-turns at signalized intersections, often on Vancouver/Weidler near I-5.
- Hit-and-run crashes — Common after late-night impacts in East Portland. Uninsured motorist coverage often becomes the recovery path.
- Rollover crashes — Less common, but devastating. Typically follow a side-impact at high speed or a curve mishandled at a sloped intersection approach.
What should you do if you were hit at one of these intersections?
The first 72 hours matter. Police reports, witness statements, vehicle damage photos, and traffic-camera video all start disappearing fast. Here is what protects your case:
- Accept medical transport even if you feel okay. Whiplash, concussion, internal injuries, and disc damage can show up hours or days after impact. OHSU, Legacy Emanuel, and Adventist Health Portland all run 24/7 ERs.
- Get a Portland Police or OSP collision report number. A formal report is the foundation of the civil claim. Insist on one before leaving the scene if you can safely wait.
- Photograph everything. All vehicles, debris, lane markings, traffic-signal phase, injuries, witness contact info. Time-stamped photos resolve disputes that come up later.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer. You are not required to. Polite refusal is the right answer until you have a lawyer.
- Note any roadway-design or signal issues. If a malfunctioning signal, missing signage, faded markings, or poor lighting played a role, the City of Portland or ODOT may share liability. Public-entity claims require written notice within 180 days under Oregon’s Tort Claims Act.
- Call an Oregon-admitted lawyer before the insurance adjuster calls you. The earlier we get involved, the more evidence we can preserve.
Our Portland car accident attorneys investigate intersection crashes across all 15 of these locations and the rest of the High Crash Network. Oregon is a modified comparative-fault state, which means you can still recover if you were partly at fault, as long as you were 50% or less responsible. Most Portland intersection cases come down to who entered the intersection legally and who failed to yield.
Contingency fee. Goldberg & Loren handles Portland intersection crash cases on contingency. You pay nothing up front. Our fee comes out of the recovery only if we win. Initial consultations are free and confidential.
FAQs
What is the most dangerous intersection in Portland?
By total crashes from 2017 to 2021, SE Division Street and SE 122nd Avenue tops the list with 104 collisions. By fatalities, SE Stark Street and SE 122nd Avenue leads with 3 deaths in the same five-year period. SE Powell Boulevard and SE 82nd Avenue is third with 102 total crashes (Portland Bureau of Transportation Vision Zero, accessed June 2026).
What is Portland’s High Crash Network?
The High Crash Network is the City of Portland’s official Vision Zero designation for streets and intersections producing the most deadly crashes. The 30 locations on the list make up only 8% of Portland’s roadway miles but account for 62% of all traffic deaths from 2018 to 2022. SE Powell, SE Division, SE Stark, and 82nd Avenue all appear repeatedly.
How long do I have to file a claim after an intersection crash in Portland?
Two years from the date of the crash under Oregon Revised Statute 12.110. If a public entity is involved, such as the City of Portland, Multnomah County, or ODOT, you must file a written tort claim notice within 180 days of the crash before you can sue. Roadway-defect, signal-failure, or signage-related claims commonly involve a public entity.
Can I sue the City of Portland if a malfunctioning traffic signal caused my crash?
Possibly. Oregon’s Tort Claims Act allows civil claims against public entities for negligence in maintaining roads, signals, signage, and markings. The 180-day written-notice deadline is strict. Roadway-defect cases also require engineering experts and fast evidence preservation, since the City may repair the defect within days of the crash.
I was partially at fault for the crash. Can I still recover?
Yes, if you were 50% or less at fault. Oregon uses a modified comparative-fault rule under ORS 31.600. If a jury finds you 30% at fault, your recovery is reduced by 30%. If a jury finds you 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing. Most Portland intersection cases come down to who had the right of way at the moment of impact.
What if the other driver fled the scene?
Your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage usually applies. Oregon requires every auto policy to include UM coverage at minimum statutory limits unless waived in writing. We work with Portland Police and OSP to identify the driver through video, witnesses, and license-plate captures. Even hit-and-run cases have real recovery options.
How much does a Portland intersection accident lawyer cost?
Nothing up front. Goldberg & Loren takes Portland intersection crash cases on contingency. If we recover money for you, our fee comes from the recovery. If we do not recover, you owe us no fee. Costs of running the case, including accident reconstruction, expert witnesses, and medical-record retrieval, are advanced by the firm and reimbursed only from a successful recovery.
What compensation can I recover after a Portland intersection crash?
Past and future medical bills, lost wages, lost earning capacity, vehicle damage, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. In wrongful-death cases, surviving family may recover under ORS 30.020. Where another driver was driving under the influence or showed gross negligence, punitive damages may also apply under ORS 31.730. Each case is different.
Sources
- Portland Bureau of Transportation. Vision Zero Traffic Crash Report 2021. portland.gov. Accessed June 2026.
- Oregon Department of Transportation. 2021 Oregon Traffic Crash Summary. oregon.gov/odot. Accessed June 2026.
- Portland Bureau of Transportation. High Crash Network Streets and Intersections. Last updated April 11, 2024. portland.gov. Accessed June 2026.
- Oregon Department of Transportation. 2020 Oregon Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes Quick Facts. oregon.gov/odot. Accessed June 2026.
- Oregon Revised Statute § 12.110. Two-year statute of limitations for personal injury actions. oregon.public.law. Accessed June 2026.
- Oregon Revised Statute § 30.275. Oregon Tort Claims Act notice requirement (180 days for public-entity claims).
- Oregon Revised Statute § 31.600. Modified comparative fault (50% bar rule).
