Gerardo A. Ortiz Henriquez, 24, from Portland, Oregon, died in a fatal Portland car crash.
Fatal Portland car crash death of Gerardo A. Ortiz Henriquez
A man identified as Gerardo A. Ortiz Henriquez, aged 24 and from Portland, has died following a collision involving a large truck and two individuals sharing a Lime scooter, as reported by law enforcement.
The authorities confirmed that Ortiz was a passenger on the scooter, alongside another person, when they were struck by the truck early on Sunday morning.
Ortiz’s sister, Jasmine, expressed profound grief, stating, “He cherished his friends, was deeply concerned for them, and was willing to assist his family and nieces in any way possible. He was a genuinely kind-hearted person. We are still struggling to accept what has happened.â€
Ortiz’s mother shared, “I am incredibly proud of him, especially considering the significant effort he dedicated to his nursing studies in the past couple of years.â€
Providence Hospital officials informed KOIN 6 that Ortiz was a valued member of their staff at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, working towards his nursing license. They expressed their condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
The incident occurred on NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard near Holladay Street around 2:45 a.m. According to police, emergency responders discovered Ortiz deceased at the scene, while the other scooter operator was transported to the hospital with severe injuries.
Investigators suggest alcohol influence might have played a role in the accident. Both Lime scooter riders were not wearing helmets during the crash.
The truck driver initially departed the scene without stopping but was subsequently located by witnesses. Law enforcement clarified that the driver, who was stationary at the intersection of Highway 224 and SE Johnson Road, was not aware of the collision when it occurred. Consequently, authorities are not treating this incident as a hit-and-run case.
