PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A man was killed early Tuesday after getting hit by a car in Southeast Portland authorities said.
Just after 6 a.m., Portland police said they responded to a crash report on Southeast McLoughlin Boulevard where a pedestrian had been hit by a car.
Upon arriving, police said they found the pedestrian, an adult man, dead. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.
According to Portland police, crashes have killed 61 people so far this year – almost ten more than the 52 people killed by gunfire and nearly matching the 62 homicides reported total.
Sarah Iannarone, the executive director with The Street Trust, said traffic deaths have become commonplace in the area.
“Quite literally, can you get from point A to point B without dying in the process?” she said.
Iannarone is among those calling for reform and safer streets in the city. She told KOIN 6 that more needs to be done to address this public health crisis.
“We just accept traffic deaths as a given, rather than saying this is something that’s preventable,” she said. “And if we change the standards, if we change the policies. If we come up with safer alternatives, then people can actually move around and get where they want to go, without dying.”
The Street Trust has been fighting for investments on dangerous orphan highways like McLoughlin and Powell Boulevard. She said that even small changes like reduced speed, increased lighting, sidewalks and crossings could help save lives.
The organization will host the World Day of Rememberance on Sunday to honor the lives lost on Portland’s streets and to call lawmakers to action. The event starts at 1259 Lloyd Center at 11:30 am
Anyone with information is asked to contact the police.
