Portland traffic deaths decline, but deadly trends persist, new report says
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Although traffic deaths have dropped in the metro area, there are still 'deadly trends' in high-crash corridors, according to a new report by the Portland Bureau of Transportation.
, released Thursday, said 58 people were killed in traffic crashes on Portland streets in 2024, compared to a record 69 traffic deaths in 2023. This data also marks the lowest count of traffic deaths since there were 54 killed in 2020.
ODOT intends to buy portion of Hayden Island to offset impacts of I-5 bridge replacement
'While the 19% reduction in traffic deaths in 2024 is a step forward, every life lost remains a tragedy,' Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said. 'The City of Portland is committed to Vision Zero, the philosophy that every traffic death is preventable through the right combination of infrastructure, education and enforcement.'
Wide, multi-lane streets and speeding continue to be among the risk factors for these deaths, the report noted. In 2024, 71% of those deaths also occurred on the High Crash Network, the 30 streets and intersections with the most serious crashes.
Further trends the report cites that the crashes occurred frequently in dark conditions with impaired driving also a contributing factor.
Oregon lawmakers scramble for solutions to public defender crisis
According to PBOT, nearly half of the traffic deaths took place in City Council District 1, Portland's easternmost district, which is mostly east of I-205. There are more low-income residents and people of color in that area as well.
But despite these trends, the report notes there have been changes in crash data where safety improvements to high-crash corridors are already being made. For one, PBOT collected safety data on Northeast 102nd Avenue from 2019 to 2024, which showed fewer crashes and lower vehicle speeds.
Further safety improvements — including reduced speed limits, new street lighting, speed camera installation and other major infrastructure projects similar to 102nd Avenue — are also making a difference, according to PBOT.
'When PBOT has funding to make our streets safer, we see results,' PBOT Director Millicent Williams said. 'We are gratified to see traffic deaths decline, but one year does not make a trend. We encourage everyone to continue to be conscientious, to drive with caution, and look out for pedestrians and people biking.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Miami Herald
‘Senseless ambush' kills mom of 5 at drum circle, OR reports say. Man convicted
A man has been convicted in a 'senseless ambush' that killed a woman at a drum circle event in Oregon, officials said. Wyatt Storm Belcher, 28, was found guilty of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon in Ash Smith's death following a jury trial, the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office said in a June 6 news release. McClatchy News reached out to Belcher's attorney June 9 and was awaiting a response. The shooting happened May 8, 2022, near the Willamette River in Portland, prosecutors said. The drum circle gathering began to break up, and 'multiple witnesses heard a loud bang and saw Ash Smith fall to the ground,' according to prosecutors. Multiple witnesses gave statements to police, prosecutors said, 'including descriptions of the person who shot Ms. Smith.' Belcher matched the descriptions and was found nearby, according to prosecutors, who said he had 'a .40 caliber Glock 23 holstered in his waistband.' Belcher and Smith were strangers to one another, KOIN reported, citing police. Smith, 31, was described in an online obituary as 'loving, energetic, and a true warrior.' The mom of five 'continuously fought for her place in this world, despite being given a bad hand time and time again' and she 'had an infectious laugh and was always a source of positivity, seeing the good in anybody,' the obituary said. In the news release, Deputy District Attorney Devin Franklin said, 'Ash Smith was truly an innocent victim. While she didn't deserve Wyatt Belcher's senseless ambush, she did deserve the compassion that the witnesses on scene showed her during her final moment. Three of those individuals had the strength to testify during this trial despite being deeply and personally affected by what they witnessed.' A sentencing hearing is scheduled June 9, according to online court records.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘Senseless ambush' kills mom of 5 at drum circle, OR reports say. Man convicted
A man has been convicted in a 'senseless ambush' that killed a woman at a drum circle event in Oregon, officials said. Wyatt Storm Belcher, 28, was found guilty of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon in Ash Smith's death following a jury trial, the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office said in a June 6 news release. McClatchy News reached out to Belcher's attorney June 9 and was awaiting a response. The shooting happened May 8, 2022, near the Willamette River in Portland, prosecutors said. The drum circle gathering began to break up, and 'multiple witnesses heard a loud bang and saw Ash Smith fall to the ground,' according to prosecutors. Multiple witnesses gave statements to police, prosecutors said, 'including descriptions of the person who shot Ms. Smith.' Belcher matched the descriptions and was found nearby, according to prosecutors, who said he had 'a .40 caliber Glock 23 holstered in his waistband.' Belcher and Smith were strangers to one another, KOIN reported, citing police. Smith, 31, was described in an online obituary as 'loving, energetic, and a true warrior.' The mom of five 'continuously fought for her place in this world, despite being given a bad hand time and time again' and she 'had an infectious laugh and was always a source of positivity, seeing the good in anybody,' the obituary said. In the news release, Deputy District Attorney Devin Franklin said, 'Ash Smith was truly an innocent victim. While she didn't deserve Wyatt Belcher's senseless ambush, she did deserve the compassion that the witnesses on scene showed her during her final moment. Three of those individuals had the strength to testify during this trial despite being deeply and personally affected by what they witnessed.' A sentencing hearing is scheduled June 9, according to online court records. Man ambushed 24-year-old he wrongly thought was gang rival in New York, feds say Man fatally stabs person, then runs at dog walker and is shot dead, WA cops say Woman lures online date to secluded area, then he's robbed of $20,000, CA cops say
Axios
4 hours ago
- Axios
This crisis in Charlotte has killed 31 people in 2025
On a Friday in May, 73-year-old Bill Yoder was riding his recumbent bike, as the grandfather often did to maintain his independence. Traffic had backed up at the intersection of East Woodlawn Road that afternoon, halting a tractor-trailer in a fading crosswalk. Yoder attempted to move around the truck, as many cyclists might in that situation. But at the same time, the semi drove forward, striking Yoder. He died on the scene. The big picture: Charlotte's streets are becoming more dangerous, and Yoder's death has raised new alarm over the issue. Less than halfway into 2025, 31 people — including five cyclists and four pedestrians — have died in crashes, according to the city's latest data as of May 28. Including those that caused serious injury, there have been nine crashes involving cyclists this year — up from seven in 2024 and four in 2023. Only one case is reported for 2022 and 2021, each. What they're saying: Yoder was the father of a member of the Sustain Charlotte team, a nonprofit advocating for safer streets and overall smarter city growth. The organization is using his death to push for street improvements, arguing that traffic violence has become normalized. "If there was anything else happening in Charlotte that had caused 30 people to die, everybody would be talking about it," says Shannon Binns, Sustain Charlotte's executive director. The City of Charlotte has pledged to eliminate traffic deaths through the "Vision Zero" initiative it launched in 2019, investing millions in pedestrian crossings and hosting events to spread awareness of safe driving. Yes, but: There's no real goal or deadline for reaching zero. Charlotte doesn't have benchmarks for when it expects to reduce traffic fatalities, while the number of crashes is rising yearly. An internal audit, which Axios reported on last year, criticized the city for not executing the Vision Zero program effectively. Among the findings, it stated the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department was not concentrating enforcement efforts in areas with the most deaths and injuries. CMPD made 7,223 motor unit stops in 2024 — a 41% drop from 2023, according to the department's annual report. Chief Johnny Jennings has said there's "not as much time to go out and enforce traffic as there used to be," and more resources, such as red light and speed cameras, would help. Charlotte City Council has not formally discussed the audit results, but the Charlotte Department of Transportation says a Vision Zero plan update is slated for the coming year. It may introduce new strategies to reduce crashes. Of 73 actions outlined in the audit, 43 actions (59%) have been completed, according to CDOT. Sixteen actions (22%) are in progress, and a small batch has not started, "largely due to resource constraints or shifts in priorities." By the numbers: Charlotte has recorded 76 crashes with fatalities or serious injuries so far in 2025, the Vision Zero dashboard shows. Between the lines: It's hard to pinpoint what's causing the increases. Potential factors could be the return of commuting since the pandemic, Charlotte's fast population growth and clashing driving styles from different regions, and reduced traffic enforcement. Exceeding the speed limit is the top contributing factor for Charlotte crashes, per the city's dashboard. What they're saying: Sustain Charlotte's Binns says city leaders aren't discussing the issue as much as they should. He calls it "a matter of political will." "If you are intentional about how you design your city and your mobility network, you can really almost eliminate these deaths and serious injuries," he says. "But you have to be intentional, and you have to be committed. They're not just going to go away." Zoom in: The intersection where Yoder died is flagged alarm-color red in the city's High Injury Network, a map of corridors with high rates of fatal and serious crashes. Despite being close to Sugar Creek Greenway and attracting many bikers and pedestrians, the area lacks dedicated bike lanes. CMPD is still investigating Yoder's May 9 crash. Once the crash report is complete, CDOT says it will conduct an engineering investigation to determine if improvements, like more markings or signs, are needed at East Woodlawn Road and Park Road. At the least, Binns suggests the city should add more paint and fresh bollards to create space between bikes and cars in problem areas. Those improvements would be quicker and less expensive than concrete changes. A more expensive but impactful option is "road diets," like the one starting soon on Matheson Avenue near NoDa. A 0.6-mile stretch, between North Tryon Street and Jordan Place, is being transitioned from four lanes to two to slow down cars and make the route safer for bikers and walkers. It's a $12.9-million undertaking. What's next: Mecklenburg County is working toward putting a 1-cent sales tax referendum on this November's election ballot. If passed, the tax would generate an estimated $19.4 billion over 30 years for transportation projects, not including potential federal matching dollars.
