PORTLAND, Ore. — Three people died and one person was hurt in a crash involving two cars, one of which was street racing, on Southeast Powell Boulevard on Thursday night, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) reported.
Police said that the drivers of two cars, a 2015 BMW 3-series sedan and a 2005 Subaru Impreza, were racing east on Southeast Powell Boulevard at 9:34 p.m. when the driver of the BMW crashed into a 2004 Lexus sedan that was turning from Southeast 63rd Avenue onto Powell Boulevard. The BMW then crashed into a median and knocked over multiple trees.
The driver and passenger in the BMW, both 18-year-old women, died at the scene. The woman driving the Lexus was taken to the hospital and later died of her injuries. A man in the Lexus was taken to the hospital with serious injuries but is expected to survive.
The driver of the Impreza, a 17-year-old boy, pulled over and stayed at the scene. Police said he was not involved in the crash.
Police have not identified any of the people who died and will not do so until family has been notified.
The PPB Major Crash Team responded to the scene to investigate. Southeast Powell Boulevard was closed between Southeast 60th Avenue and Southeast 72nd Avenue during the investigation — and a second crash happened during that time, according to police.
At 4:27 a.m., a driver hit an unmarked, unoccupied police car with its emergency lights on that was blocking traffic on Southeast Powell Boulevard and 65th Avenue. Nobody was injured. The driver of the vehicle was criminally cited for DUII and reckless driving.
Police said the road reopened at about 6:30 a.m. Friday.
Portland police said there have been 42 traffic-related deaths in the city in 2023, including 11 in July.
Anyone with information about this crash who has not yet spoken to police is asked to contact PPB at crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference Case No. 23-190919.
Hours after the Thursday night crash, the PPB Major Crash Team was called out to respond to another fatal crash Friday morning. The second crash happened at 1:33 a.m. on Southwest Barbur Boulevard at Southwest 22nd Avenue. One person died at the scene and another suffered serious injuries. Two people, including the driver police believe was responsible, were not seriously hurt.
The Friday morning crash closed Southwest Barbur Boulevard between Southwest 21st Avenue and Southwest 24th Avenue. The roadway reopened around 10:30 a.m.