PORTLAND, Ore. — The driver in a deadly September hit-and-run in Northeast Portland has been indicted on multiple felony charges, including driving under the influence.
Around 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 18, a woman was found dead in the road in the area of Northeast 85th Avenue and Northeast Fremont Street, Portland police said. Surveillance video captured a an early '90s Ford F-250 Supercab believed to have hit the woman.
On Wednesday, Portland police identified the woman killed as 28-year-old Victoria Deliccuia Jacob-Springer.
Later on the day of the crash, Portland police indicated that they'd found the suspect vehicle and the driver, later identified as 61-year-old Richard Epton. However, court records suggest that Epton was not arrested and charged at the time. Statements from the Portland Police Bureau do not elaborate on the circumstances.
Epton turned himself in Tuesday night, following a secret indictment issued by a Multnomah County grand jury. He was charged and booked for first-degree manslaughter, failure to perform the duties of a driver, DUII and tampering with physical evidence, Portland police said.
Court documents show that Epton was charged with DUII in 2017 after Gresham police pulled him over for driving at night without his headlights on. The arresting officer noted that Epton smelled strongly of alcohol, blowing 0.15 on a breath test. He was also charged with possession of cocaine and methamphetamine.
Those 2017 charges were dismissed after Epton completed a diversion program. He received two speeding tickets in 2022.
Anyone with information about this incident who has not yet spoken with investigators is asked to contact crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, attention Traffic Investigations Unit, and reference case number 24-238520.
