UPDATE: Motorcycle Rider Involved in Crash Identified

Portland Police Badge

March 26, 2022 14:57

The motorcyclist killed in Thursday's crash in the Piedmont Neighborhood is being identified as James E. Martin, 26, of Portland. His family has been notified of his death.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Martin was riding a motorcycle at a high rate of speed eastbound on Northeast Columbia Boulevard when he ran a red light and hit the side of a Ford Ranger pickup truck towing a trailer that was entering the intersection northbound from Northeast Vancouver Avenue. The force of the crash caused the pickup to tip it on its side. The driver and his 8-year-old son were brought to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The motorcycle was stolen. No arrests made or citations issued.

###PPB###

###ORIGINAL MESSAGE BELOW###

A motorcyclist died after a crash with another vehicle in the Piedmont Neighborhood.

On Thursday, March 24, 2022 at 1:40p.m., North Precinct officers responded to a crash at North Vancouver Avenue and Northeast Columbia Boulevard. When they arrived they found a crash involving a motorcyclist and a pickup truck towing a trailer. The motorcyclist was deceased. The pickup was overturned and the two occupants, an adult male and a 12-year-old juvenile male, were seriously injured. Their injuries are not believed to be life threatening. They were transported to the hospital by ambulance.

The Portland Police Major Crash Team responded to investigate. Extreme speed on the part of the motorcyclist is believed to be a factor in the crash.

During the investigation, Northeast Columbia Boulevard is closed between and Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Interstate-5.

If anyone has information about this crash, please contact crimetips@portlandoregon.gov, attention Traffic Investigations Unit, and reference case number 22-78973, or call (503)823-2103.

More information will be released when appropriate.

This is the 16th fatal crash of 2022 in the city of Portland, and the 4th involving a motorcycle.

###PPB###

*************