One person died and two others were injured after a high-speed crash late Saturday night in North Portland. Police investigators determined the crash was a result of speed racing.
On Saturday, just before midnight, Portland police officers responded to the two-car crash in the 5900 block of North Marine Drive where they discovered a vehicle on fire. Three people — both drivers and a passenger — were taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. One of the drivers, whose identify has not been publicly released, died at the hospital.
A car on fire after a two-vehicle crash caused by street racing in North Portland on Saturday Feb. 18, 2023. One of the drivers in the crash later died of their injuries.
Portland Police Bureau
Investigators with the Portland Police Bureau’s Traffic Investigations Unit determined the crash was caused by speed racing, as both vehicles were traveling at fast speeds when the drivers lost control and crashed.
In recent years, Portland has seen a surge in illegal street racing, along with other metro areas across the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, the Portland City Council voted to crack down on street racing with an ordinance that created two misdemeanor crimes related to street racing: unlawful street racing and unlawful staging of street takeover event. Potential penalties include towed cars, a fine of up to $500 and jail time.