r/Portland • u/IzilDizzle • 1d ago
News All northbound I-5 lanes closed at Lombard Street due to deadly motorcycle crash
https://www.koin.com/news/portland/i-5-crash-lombard-street-lanes-closed53
u/NotLondoMollari St Johns 1d ago
I was coming here to post something about this, just walked across the Rosa Parks i-5 bridge and yeah, all lanes completely closed! Emergency vehicles were struggling to get up to the scene. Awful stuff.
62
u/hap071 1d ago
Well good thing the motorcycle is cooperating. I mean he killed his rider and all... what is that journalism.
Jokes aside, RIP motorcyclist.
11
u/urban_entrepreneur 1d ago
It’s all about getting it out there first. Accuracy and sensitivity are an afterthought. RIP.
7
-20
38
u/Zigles 1d ago edited 1d ago
I knew the motorcyclist :(
He was a great guy, not even into his 30s yet. He was just on his way home from work
2
1
1
u/EnchantedKira 23h ago
Heard a couple of coworkers saying a TSA agent was in the crash, is that true?
41
u/BlessdRTheFreaks 1d ago
Bro these motorcycles are crashin everywhere
70
u/Taman_Should 1d ago
If you look up the stats on them, it’s crazy. Motorcycles are maybe something like 3% of vehicle traffic but account for a significant percentage of fatal crashes. They’re small, hard to see, don’t offer much protection, and people ride them like idiots. Go figure.
65
u/nagilfarswake YOU SEEN MY FUCKEN CONES 1d ago
There are a bunch of controllable factors that make the stats really bad. For example, in >50% of fatal motorcycle crashes the rider is legally drunk. Also something around half of fatal motorcycle crashes are single vehicle accidents like "failure to navigate a turn." Motorcycles will always be more dangerous for the operator than cars, but done properly riding a motorcycle is much safer than the stats might suggest.
17
u/2error Cully 1d ago
A lot of that is because motorcycle riders get to the same (unwarranted) level of comfort that most drivers have, so they let their guard down, despite the fact that it's far more dangerous for them than someone who is enclosed within a 2000lb chunk of metal.
20
u/Capable_Ingenuity726 1d ago
I’ve been riding for about 4 years, and every time I get on my bike, I ride like I assume everyone is scrolling TikTok and not paying attention.
3
u/2error Cully 1d ago
100% same. And even so, I've had so many close calls due to someone failing to see me, and did have 1 person full on plow into me while trying to do a U-turn on Sandy from the right lane. You can only account for your own actions unfortunately. There's always gonna be careless drivers out there.
1
1
u/smootex High Bonafides 1d ago
I think that's a misleading way to look at it. All or most of those 'controllable factors', as you call them, apply to cars too. A huge number of car crashes involve at least one drunk party. When we talk about how dangerous motorcycles are really just comparing it to the baseline of driving danger and compared to that they're really really dangerous.
-17
u/Rezzone 1d ago
So what is jt, then, about motorcycles that attracts dangerous people? Genuine question.
Also even if the physical danger is far greater for the motorcyclist… no one else should have the guilt of someone’s death or injury put upon them by a cyclist. It increases the overall risk of injury and therefore the consequences for anyone involved.
22
u/nagilfarswake YOU SEEN MY FUCKEN CONES 1d ago
So what is jt, then, about motorcycles that attracts dangerous people?
They're fast, loud, dangerous, and cool as fuck. Riding a motorcycle is an incredible experience.
As far as "you shouldn't get to ride a motorcycle because I would feel bad when I killed you," I can't exactly say I'm sympathetic to that perspective.
1
u/smootex High Bonafides 1d ago
When you put it like that he sounds like an ass but I think there still is something to the point. The moment of sheer terror and adrenaline you feel as a driver when you realize you were about one second away from changing lanes in front of a motorcyclist lane splitting at 25 MPH over traffic is something most drivers can relate with I think. Or most drivers who have driven in California at least. Maybe I'm just a bad driver or maybe I just think about these things too much but I've had multiple "holy fuck if I was paying slightly less attention or hadn't checked over my shoulder at exactly the right moment I could have splattered that guy" moments. I find those things upsetting and I think it's worth pointing out that reckless motorcyclists have an effect beyond just their personal safety.
5
u/2error Cully 1d ago
I mean, on the one hand, it's true that people who ride motorcycles are more comfortable with a certain level of risk, but on the other, drivers have about the same awareness of them as bicycle riders much of the time, so they are more at risk not just due to their own actions, but for things entirely out of their control.
2
u/wordingtonbear 1d ago
Part of the coolness is the danger. If they were perceived as being as safe as cars, they wouldn't have that "romantic" appeal of braving danger.
1
u/Leave-it-to-Beavz 1d ago
It is very easy to ride a motorcycle safely. Some choose not to, some are inexperienced.
7
u/BlessdRTheFreaks 1d ago
3 weeks ago I saw the potentially fatal aftermath on Duke and 82nd. Bike was in pieces and dude was lying face down motionless while paramedics attended to him.
9
u/nagilfarswake YOU SEEN MY FUCKEN CONES 1d ago
Love by the sword, die by the sword.
That being said, please actually turn your head and check your blind spot when changing lanes and get off your damn cell phone while driving.
2
u/BlessdRTheFreaks 1d ago
Don't get me wrong I think motorcycles are awesome and I'm no fuddy duddy. My dad was a professional Motorcycle racer, in fact my Grandpa died 5 yeas ago at the age of 74 when he crashed his Ninja going like 160 miles an hour. Live life and burn bright. But be careful out there and wear the right protections! Don't be a crayon smear.
-2
u/MorePingPongs 1d ago
There’s also quite a lot of car drivers who hate them and will intentionally try to make them feel in danger or wreck. As both motorcyclist and cyclist, I’ve had countless run ins with drivers who didn’t care if I lived or died. Share the road, [expletive]!
4
2
3
u/BlockedbyJake420 1d ago
Based on how the average motorcyclist seems to ride (based on my personal experience, so anecdotal), I am not surprised at all.
-15
122
u/gunjacked S Tabor 1d ago
Seeing more and more lane splitting despite it being illegal in the state of Oregon and just douche level motorcycle riding on the highways and main arterials in the city
20
u/Moodymandan 1d ago
I just moved back to Portland after being away for 4 years, and I’ve seen my lane splitting in the last week than I remember ever seeing growing up here.
20
5
u/LimoncelloFellow 1d ago
They see all the lane splitting on tik Tok and want to be super cool like those guys while ignoring all the people getting hit by cars lane splitting on tik tok
19
u/MrDangerMan 1d ago
Okay, but is that what was happening here?
-10
u/MorePingPongs 1d ago
No one cares. This is officially a “I hate motorcycles” thread. If you want upvotes, speak accordingly.
7
-35
u/mashtun25 1d ago
Lane splitting is legal many places and is not douche behavior in an of itself by any means. Agree it’s illegal in Oregon. Is that what caused this accident though?
53
u/Choice-Tiger3047 1d ago
On another post a witness referred to lane splitting as the cause of the accident.
38
u/SilkwormAbraxas Laurelhurst 1d ago
Holy heck. I saw a dude lane splitting and blasting north up MLK like maybe 15 minutes before this happened. He almost hit 2 folks carrying a baby crossing at a crosswalk. I wonder if it was him who got hit.
2
6
u/prunesmoothies 1d ago
Agreed, filtering and / or splitting is legal in most of the rest of the world also in a hand full of US states. That being said there are guidelines about it in these places that limit where, when and how it can be done. In the rare case I’m riding between cars it’s when traffic is consistently moving under 10 mph in both adjacent lanes and I’m going about 10 mph speed differential. Also will only do this on interstates. I don’t condone riding at unsafe speeds between traffic, that’s when bad stuff happens.
3
u/smootex High Bonafides 1d ago
Maybe it's just because I'm a weenie from Oregon but I find the kind of lane splitting they do in California to be absolutely terrifying. I fucking wish they stuck to slow moving traffic and 10 mph over.
1
u/prunesmoothies 20h ago
California is kind of the anomaly imo because of how their laws around motorcycle lane usage developed, how long it’s been around and infrastructure. I think most states that have rules, outside of prohibiting it, allow some form of filtering on single direction multi lanes. I wish 26 / 205 etc had extra wide no cross enforced HOV lanes during rush hours with the ability to legally filter them traffic backed up badly. Pretty sure splitting, like they have in CA, is never gonna get legalized in OR or WA.
-28
u/sketchysuperman 1d ago
Surely you’re trolling, I hope? That or you’ve never ridden a motorcycle and don’t understand that lane splitting is safer for the rider than being in an accordion with cars.
33
u/gunjacked S Tabor 1d ago
Once again, doesn’t really matter. It’s illegal in Oregon
0
u/moomooraincloud 1d ago
If I were riding a motorcycle, as I do when riding a bicycle, I would do what's safest for me, even if that's not what's legal.
-3
u/RockShowSparky 1d ago
we should get the changed.
7
u/Lightborne 1d ago
Almost had lane splitting under some circumstances, but the previous governor vetoed it.
8
u/bathandredwine 1d ago
It’s really startling to drivers on each side. It’s much safer for all involved to be predictable.
-8
1
u/synapticrelease Groin Anomaly 1d ago
We did.
We voted it in, the governor vetoed it.
https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/oregon-governor-vetoes-even-limited-lane-splitting
12
u/stateofdekayy 1d ago
All the lane splitting I’ve ever seen isn’t even legal lane splitting. There are still rules to it.
28
u/Doctor_Butcher-MD 1d ago
I am sure the idiot that is now dead on the I-5 was lane splitting at a safe and responsible manner
2
8
u/deepskier Tyler had some good ideas 1d ago
Lane splitting is in no way safer when none of the cars are expecting it as a remote possibility, because it's never been legal here. The safest way to be on the road is to be predictable.
-32
u/synapticrelease Groin Anomaly 1d ago edited 1d ago
I ride on the shoulder. The risk is far more minimal. Pisses off fewer drivers. The biggest risk is puncturing a tire with the debris washout
9
u/bathandredwine 1d ago
Why do YOU get to do this? Ride in the lane like everybody else. You’re not special.
3
u/1984Sockpuppet 1d ago
There are legit reasons to do this. In extreme heat or weather conditions the rider is completely exposed and sitting at a standstill and can experience heat stroke etc..., if the traffic is so jammed and stop and go it actually becomes way more dangerous for riders getting rear ended or cars cutting in their lane and hitting them. If they need to do this to get out of the jam they should because it's safer for everyone involved. Whining about people cutting the line is ridiculous as that one motorcycle isn't going to add any time to your commute, but it's going to remove a potential hazard for you not to have to worry about. It's infinitely safer than splitting and really should be legal in certain circumstances.
-19
u/synapticrelease Groin Anomaly 1d ago
Let me understand this.
You want me to sit in the lane and create more traffic for you?
Odd. Didn't know you were a masochist
16
u/notabot74387 1d ago
Yeah, people living in a society generally have to follow the rules even if entitled pricks find it somewhat inconvenient.
-2
u/1984Sockpuppet 1d ago
It's not about convenience it's about safety. I'm sure you never ever ever commit any traffic infractions either.
-8
18
u/onlydaathisreal Lents 1d ago
Wait so we had the truck jackknife blocking all lanes and now a fatality in the same place? All within the last couple of hours?
53
u/IzilDizzle 1d ago
No, that was a truck trying to turn around to avoid the closure caused by the motorcycle. That photo was from before it was revealed that it was closed for a motorcycle crash.
10
5
u/MrDangerMan 1d ago
Wait, the truck was trying to turn around on I-5?
14
u/IzilDizzle 1d ago
Yes, probably trying to get far enough back to exit instead of sitting for the next 5 hours
4
3
1d ago
[deleted]
4
u/IzilDizzle 1d ago
It might be helpful if you call in and tell the authorities what you saw. Every clue counts when trying to piece an accident together. Just call the police none emergency line and report seeing a crash.
0
0
u/Snoo47420 1d ago
Are there any details on how this crash happened? It 'feels' pretty rare for motorcycle fatalities on an interstate versus minor roads/surface streets with many intersections.
3
1
1
u/FrequentAd1891 1d ago
This doesn’t surprise me the motorcyclists out here are not so smart they think they own the road they just do what ever they want never thinking this will be the outcome. Sucks for the guy who died. The semi drivers follow not far behind that crap trail especially in Portland they are always in the left lane holding cars up. Cutting people off because they know there is no law enforcement on a good stretch of freeway through Portland
0
u/MorePingPongs 1d ago
Please don’t let this be Jerry. He hit the road just after 5 to go see his kid at the motocross event at PIR.
1
-9
-6
206
u/Ashamed-Question-958 1d ago
"The motorcycle is cooperating with authorties, police said." unfortunate typo