Two Bodies Recovered After High Speed Crash Sends Car Into Willamette River in Downtown Portland
PORTLAND, Ore. — Two bodies were recovered by the Dive Team from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office after a vehicle, traveling at high speed, crashed into the Willamette River during the early hours of Easter Monday.
One Passenger Survived and Was Pulled to Safety by Fire & Rescue
A third passenger has not yet been located and is presumed deceased. A fourth person traveling in the vehicle suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was rescued by Portland Fire & Rescue.
The incident unfolded shortly after 2 a.m. on Easter Monday when a PPB Central Precinct officer observed a vehicle traveling at high speed in the wrong direction in Downtown Portland.
The vehicle was running red lights and, in an effort to initiate a traffic stop, the officer activated the overhead lights on his police vehicle at Southwest Third Avenue and Harvey Milk Street.
The Vehicle Turned into Waterfront Park and Ultimately Landed in the River
However, the vehicle continued at high speed eastbound on Southwest Harvey Milk Street. The officer then witnessed the vehicle crossing Southwest Naito Parkway before turning into Waterfront Park, where it ultimately ended in the Willamette River.
- 2:09 a.m. : officer sees wrong way speeding car downtown.
- Moments later : lights activated at Southwest 3rd and Harvey Milk.
- Then : vehicle crosses Naito, enters Waterfront Park, and hits the river.
- After crash : one person is rescued alive by Fire & Rescue.
- Later : two bodies are recovered, one person remains missing.
PPB’s Assistant Chief Brian Hughes has described the incident as heartbreaking and has extended his department’s condolences to all the families concerned.
PPB is continuing its investigation of the circumstances surrounding the incident and will release additional information when appropriate.