Update to PPB Fatal Crash Numbers (Photo)


December 21, 2024 15:35

  

The Portland Police Bureau is updating its current count of traffic related fatalities for 2023 and 2024 year-to-date (YTD).

A PPB internal analysis of the database used to count the traffic deaths revealed that a small number were unintentionally double-counted for last year and this year. PPB regrets our errors in reporting. The corrected counts of traffic related deaths in the City of Portland are listed below:

2024: 65 (YTD)
2023: 75

Data reported previously remains accurate:
2022: 68
2021: 69
2020: 59
2019: 54
2018: 37
2017: 52
2016: 44
2015: 39

It’s important to point out that PPB’s figures are distinct from numbers tracked by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). NHTSA’s count excludes crashes involving suicide, private property, non-public roadways, non-motor vehicles, medical events, and deaths that happen more than 30 days after a crash. Our partners at the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) report NHTSA numbers, consistent with their mission. PPB’s figures capture incidents that do not fall under NHTSA reporting guidelines, but nevertheless involve an investigation by the Traffic Investigations Unit (TIU), part of the PPB Traffic Division. Homicides involving vehicles are not counted, however, as they are accounted for in the homicide statistics.

Other statistics for 2024 (YTD):
Total deaths of vehicle occupants: 24
Total deaths of pedestrians: 23
Total deaths of bicycle riders: 4
Total deaths of motorcycle riders/passengers: 11
Total deaths involving someone struck by a train: 3
Total deaths involving a person determined to be houseless: 12
Total crashes that involve detected impairment: 14
Total deaths involving hit-and-run: 8
Total deaths involving speed racing/stunting: 2
Total crashes that have prosecutable crimes involved: 21
Major Crash Team callouts: 58
TIU crash reconstruction officers: 4

For NHTSA/PBOT statistics, please refer to the PBOT Vision Zero Dashboard: https://www.portland.gov/transportation/vision-zero/vision-zero-dashboard
Or the latest PBOT Annual Deadly Traffic Crash Report: https://www.portland.gov/transportation/vision-zero/annual-deadly-traffic-crash-report

While these numbers are heartbreaking by themselves, we remind our community that they’re more than just numbers. Each one of these deaths represents a person, whose loss is deeply felt by their family, friends, loved ones, neighbors, and our whole community. TIU officers are involved in family notifications for each one of these crashes, and do their best to maintain close connection as the families process and grieve their losses.

PPB recently collaborated with PBOT in a news conference to discuss these too-common tragedies on our roads. A short video is available here:
https://youtube.com/shorts/cGthxv4urL0?si=P90HrAGhhXI6HOVD

We hope that the public conversation surrounding this issue continues, and that we all encourage each other to each do our part to prevent crashes. Each year, law enforcement personnel respond to preventable collisions that can deeply impact those involved, their families, and loved ones. All road users are encouraged to avoid actions that might lead to a collision, including impairment, speed, distraction, and disobeying signals.

PPB’s Traffic Division and Patrol Division are always looking for dangerous driving activities and continue to make arrests and issue citations.

PPB would like to remind the public, especially during the holiday season, drink responsibly and remember buzzed driving is drunk driving. And drug-impaired driving is just as dangerous, and illegal, as alcohol-impaired driving. Officers take a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of impaired driving. Please, drive sober.

###PPB###

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