UPDATE: Pedestrian Crash Determined to Be a Suicide

Portland Police Badge

March 26, 2022 13:38

The Northeast Marine Drive pedestrian-involved crash involving a semi was determined to be a suicide.

The investigation revealed that the pedestrian, a 34-year-old Portland man, intentionally jumped into the path of a semi tractor-trailer just as it was approaching. The driver of the semi was unable to stop before striking him. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation, and no arrests made or citations issued.

Investigators learned that Portland Officers spoke to the pedestrian a short time before the crash when they were called on a welfare check on him. The man was walking beside the road and out of traffic. Officers tried to offer him help but he was uncooperative. There was no indication that he was suicidal and the officers had no lawful reason to detain him. They watched him for about 15 minutes from a distance to make sure he was safe before clearing. Sometime after police left, the crash happened.

This is the 17th fatal crash of 2022.

Help is available for community members struggling from a mental health crisis and/or suicidal thoughts. Suicide is preventable.

The Multnomah County Mental Health Call Center is available 24 hours a day at 503-988-4888.
If you or someone you know is in mental health crisis please visit Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare's Urgent Walk-In Clinic. The clinic is located at 4212 Southeast Division Street and is open from 7am to 10:30pm, 7 days a week. Services are free and available to individuals of all ages.

Lines for Life is also available 24 hours a day at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Information about the Portland Police Bureau's Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) and additional resources can be found by visiting http://portlandoregon.gov/police/bhu

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###ORIGINAL MESSAGE BELOW###

A pedestrian has died after a collision with a semi tractor-trailer on Northeast Marine Drive.

On Friday, March 25, 2022 at 11:43a.m., North Precinct officers were dispatched to a report of a crash on Northeast Marine Drive and Northeast 148th Avenue. When they arrived, they located a deceased male who appeared to have been struck by the vehicle. The involved semi driver remained on scene and is cooperating with the investigation.

The Portland Police Major Crash Team is on scene to investigate. During the investigation, Northeast Marine Drive is closed between Northeast 148th Avenue and Northeast 152nd Avenue.

If anyone has information about this crash, please contact crimetips@portlandoregon.gov, attention Traffic Investigations Unit, and reference case number 22-79852, or call (503)823-2103.

More information will be released when appropriate.

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