PORTLAND, Ore. — Police have identified the occupants of a car that crashed off the east side of the Morrison Bridge in early June, falling onto Southeast Water Avenue and killing the two people inside.
Police responded at 2:17 a.m. to a report of a rollover crash on Southeast Water Avenue and Southeast Belmont Street.
When officers arrived they found a black 2003 Mercedes 500 on its back and two men dead.
In an update released June 23, Portland police identified the driver of the car as 22-year-old Larry A. Ayala-Valdez of Milwaukie. The passenger was identified as Adrian Gama, 22, of Clackamas County. Their families have been notified of their deaths.
Preliminary information showed that Ayala-Valdez had been driving eastbound on the Morrison Bridge viaduct when he struck a barrier and went over, landing on the street below, police said.
Ayala-Valdez and Gama both died in the crash. No one else was injured.
The Portland Police Traffic Division Major Crash Team investigated. Eastbound traffic on the Morrison Bridge was blocked, as was traffic on Southeast Water Avenue. The roads were finally reopened at about 8:00 a.m. that day.
Speed and alcohol are believed to be contributing factors in the crash, police said. They do not believe any other vehicles were involved, and the investigation remains ongoing.
According to police statistics, these are the 25th and 26th traffic fatalities for 2023 in the City of Portland.
Investigators ask anyone who has information about the crash or what immediately preceded it to please e-mail crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, attention Traffic Investigations Unit, and reference case number 23-146476.
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