n the early hours of Sunday, August 17, 2025, at 2:46 a.m., officers from the Portland Police North Precinct responded to reports of a serious crash at the intersection of Northeast Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Northeast Holladay Street. Upon their arrival, they discovered two individuals: one was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. The condition of the hospitalized individual remains unknown at this time.
The incident on Northeast Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard has generated significant concern in the community, particularly due to the circumstances surrounding the crash and the involvement of a semi-truck. Such accidents often raise questions about road safety and the responsibilities of commercial drivers, especially when it comes to stopping after an accident.
The driver of the tractor-trailer involved in the incident fled the scene, but a witness was able to follow the vehicle. Officers from the Central Precinct subsequently stopped the truck at Highway 224 and Southeast Johnson Road, approximately ten miles from the crash site. It is currently unclear whether the driver was aware of the accident when they were apprehended.
The Portland Police Traffic Division’s Major Crash Team is actively investigating the incident. In the meantime, Northeast Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard has been closed between Northeast Multnomah Street and Northeast Pacific Street to facilitate the investigation.
Reports indicate that one of the victims was struck by the semi-truck close to the Oregon Convention Center. Local media captured footage showing a discarded electric scooter in the intersection, although authorities have not confirmed if either of the victims was using the scooter at the time of the collision. The investigation continues as police seek to clarify the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.
