A Canby man was killed in a two-vehicle, motorcycle vs. SUV crash in the St. Johns neighborhood of north Portland last week, police say.
According to the Portland Police Bureau, Seth Thomas Roberts, 21, of Canby, was riding a blue 2005 Suzuki SV650S motorcycle when he struck the passenger side of a black 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee near the intersection of North Marine Drive and North Bybee Lake Road.
Officers arrived at the scene at approximately 11:37 p.m. Saturday, July 15, to find Roberts dead. The driver and passenger in the SUV, whom police did not identify, were evaluated but not seriously injured.
The crash occurred while Portland Police Bureau officers were investigating a street takeover at the Interstate 5 interchange three miles away, which blocked all traffic, forcing the ambulance to go the long way around on North Columbia Boulevard past Kelley Point Park and approach from the west.
Street takeovers are an activity related to street racing in which a coordinated group of drivers and spectators illegally block off streets and intersections to speed or perform stunts like drifting, doughnuts and ghost riding.
Both Roberts and the driver of the SUV were involved in the organized street racing and takeover events happening in the city that night, Portland police reported. Speed is believed to have been a contributing factor in the fatal crash.
The crash was the 37th traffic-related fatality of the year in Portland, and the second in nearly five hours.
During the crash investigation, police say a separate motorcyclist sped through the scene, nearly hitting two officers.
An officer attempted to stop the motorcyclist afterward, but the rider eluded police for nearly an hour, allegedly speeding, running red lights and driving on sidewalks and through parks and walking trails.
The rider, later identified as 21-year-old Ethan K. Krebs, of Gresham, was ultimately stopped and arrested near the intersection of Southeast Woodland Drive and Southeast Eagle Lane.
Krebs was booked into the Multnomah County Jail on 17 charges — including 10 counts of reckless endangerment, two counts each of menacing and interfering with a police officer, and single counts of reckless driving, attempt to elude by vehicle and assault on a public safety officer.
Portland police credited its air support and K-9 units, as well as the assistance of the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office and Gresham Police Department in trailing and apprehending the reckless rider.
Investigators believe there were additional witnesses to the fatal crash who left without speaking to officers, including riders of several other motorcycles.
Anyone with information about the crash to email crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 23-186244.