A motorcyclist involved in an accident identified

March 26, 2022 2:57 p.m.

The motorcyclist killed in Thursday’s accident in the Piedmont neighborhood is identified as James E. Martin, 26, of Portland. His family has been notified of his death.

Preliminary investigation found that Martin was riding a motorcycle at high speed eastbound on Northeast Columbia Boulevard when he ran a red light and hit the side of a Ford Ranger pickup truck towing a trailer that was entering the intersection in heading north from Northeast Vancouver Avenue. The force of the accident flipped the pickup on its side. The driver and his 8-year-old son were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The motorcycle was stolen. No arrests made or citations issued.

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### ORIGINAL MESSAGE BELOW ###

A motorcyclist died after an accident with another vehicle in the Piedmont district.

On Thursday, March 24, 2022 at 1:40 p.m., North Ward officers responded to an accident on North Vancouver Avenue and Northeast Columbia Boulevard. Upon arrival, they observed an accident involving a motorcyclist and a van towing a trailer. The biker died. The van overturned and the two occupants, an adult male and a 12-year-old boy, were seriously injured. Their injuries are not believed to be life threatening. They were taken to hospital by ambulance.

The Portland Police Major Crash Team responded to investigate. The extreme speed of the motorcyclist is thought to be a factor in the accident.

During the investigation, Northeast Columbia Boulevard is closed between Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Interstate-5.

If anyone has information about this accident, please contact [email protected], Attn: Traffic Investigations Unit and Reference Case Number 22-78973, or call (503) 823 -2103.

More information will be published as appropriate.

This is the 16th fatal accident of 2022 in the city of Portland, and the 4th involving a motorcycle.

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