UPDATE: Deceased Driver in Northeast Portland Crash Identified

July 01, 2021 18:58

The deceased driver is identified as Delbert E. Downing, 51 of Longview. His family has been notified of his death.

Preliminary investigation suggests the crash was immediately preceded by a road rage encounter between known persons. All involved have been contacted and the investigation is continuing.

If anyone has information about this incident and has not spoken to police, please contact Traffic Investigations Unit Officer Chris Johnson at Chris.Johnson@portlandoregon.gov 503-823-2213.

This is the 36th Major Crash Team activation and 29th traffic fatality for 2021 in the City of Portland. Today there was another fatal crash and MCT activation (see other release).

Photo description: Two pickup trucks with heavy front end damage. Absorbent material spread across liquid on the roadway.

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###ORIGINAL MESSAGE BELOW###

A fatal traffic crash has a major thoroughfare shut down for an investigation.

On Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at 5:17p.m., North Precinct officers were dispatched to a report of a crash at Northeast Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard and Northeast Columbia Boulevard. When officers arrived they found three vehicles involved, including two that appeared to impact head-on. A patient was transported to a hospital by ambulance, where the patient died.

Two other vehicles were involved. A driver of one of the vehicles had minor injuries but was transported to a hospital as a precaution. The other driver was not injured.

The Portland Police Traffic Division Major Crash Team is investigating. During the investigation, Northeast Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard is closed north of Northeast Columbia Boulevard.

If anyone has information about this incident, please call police non-emergency at 503 823-3333 and reference case number 21-177749.

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