Victim identified in deadly SE Portland hit-and-run crash
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PORTLAND, Ore. - The victim of a deadly hit-and-run crash on Thursday morning in Southeast Portland has been identified as 56-year-old Tommy Zane Gann.
Meanwhile, Portland police are still looking for a driver of a box van that's implicated in the crash.
Police said Gann was crossing Southeast Holgate Boulevard near Southeast 15th diagonally from south to north when he was struck by the van.
On Thursday, Gann's family members were mourning his loss and expressed outrage about the alleged hit-and-run.
"I would ask them why they didn't stop honestly," said Josh Dulaney, Gann's grandson. "They just left him. What if that was their parent or their brother or something? They just left him."
Gann's granddaughter expressed the same sentiment.
"They just need to confess," she said. "Even if it's an accident, they shouldn't have just left. They should've stopped to see if he's OK."
Police said the crash took place at about 5:40 a.m. and the vehicle involved is a Ford Econoline white box van, possibly with a roof rack. Police said the van "should have significant front end damage including glass breakage."
Witness describes what she saw
One neighbor, Ronda Fisk, saw it happen. She was out on her balcony with her daughter when it sounded like something hit the building.
"I'm never going to get that image out of my head. I've never seen anything like this before in my life. I will have dreams over this one," said Fisk. "The guy was in the air. It was like he was flying."
She added that she never say the driver's brake lights on.
Fisk called 911 and her daughter ran to Gann's side.
"We took a blanket, and we covered him," she said.
Since the suspect's van was going so fast, she wasn't able to get its license plate.
She didn't see the driver.
Investigators believe the suspect is a white man with shorter, dark hair and possibly a scraggly beard.
Police said the van was last seen heading west on Holgate.
Police said the Gann had died at the hospital.
Southeast Holgate Boulevard was closed to all traffic from Southeast Milwaukie to 17th Avenues. The Major Crash Team is investigating.
This is the sixth traffic fatality in Portland so far this year and the third involving a pedestrian.
Anyone with information about the identity of the driver or about the incident should contact Portland police Traffic Officer Chris Johnson at 503-823-2103.
KATU News reporter Erica Nochlin contributed to this report.
That is not a box van... It's a van.. Come on Katu.. That is so stupid !
Just heard on the scanner that the vehicle has been located. They are on their way now.
who here thinks the person responsible already has an extensive record of driving violations and more?
This took place at 5:30 am. Â That is either very late or very early. Not many people are out at that time. Â I do wonder why the victim and the driver were out at that time and what the alcohol level was of each.Â
It could be the fault of both involved being under the influence and making poor decisions. Â NO excuse to leave.
Condolences to the victim's family.
@my2centsThere's a flagging business just across the street that's open all hours. Â There's convenience stores and a little restaurant around the corner (I believe), not to mention Tri-met right there as well. Â It was a weekday. Â You don't think that maybe this gentleman worked in the area or intended to catch a bus for work, or possibly went to the store to pick something up for breakfast or lunch? Â That area is right off of McLoughlin, and is located a block away from an artery that leads straight up to 82nd. Â Sorry if you're not up until 11am to know what others may do during the earlier part of the day. Â S
Such a sad and tragic event for all of those involved. Â Hopefully, this individual can be caught to help with the closure process, as running away only makes matters worse.
they couldnt have been going to work right?
@my2cents You c
I live in the Irvington neighborhood, and I can tell you there a boatload of morning people out at 5:30. They start coming out and about 5:00. By 6:30, it's crazy town with bikes and joggers all over the hood.@my2centsÂ
I live right where it happened. Although I did not know about it until I left my house at 7:15 am, I was not surprised to see police in front of the apartment complex up the street. It's notorious for frequent visits by sizable quantities of law enforcement. So as I left this morning, I could only wonder what they were there for this time. Last time it looked like a drug bust. People are in and out of that complex at all hours, especially the wee hours. If the victim came from those apartments, which is where he was directly in front of, then I have my suspicions as to why he was awake so early/late. But since he lost his life, it seems it would be disrespectful for me to publicly state what is only my assumption. I can only give you a perspective that I've shared with the neighbors in this area who know what I mean about the activity in those apartments. So there's that angle that the news isn't reporting.Â
@my2cents Are you serious?  Sure, the streets aren't as crowded at 5:30am, but there are tons of people out at that time for a thousand different reasons.  Not all people live in the 9-5 world that perhaps you enjoy.  This is a tragic event and I hope the driver is located soon, but to assume alcohol is a factor with either the driver or the victim is presumptuous and speculative. Sincere condolences to Mr. Gann's family and loved ones.
Mr. Gann, rest in peace. Â I'm certain the community will look out for your friends and loved ones better than the callous person(s) who are responsible for your death.
I live close to this intersection. The traffice in this area of town has increased so much in the last year. Crosswalks and traffic lights need to be updated for safety. This is no longer a quite industrial part of town.
I saw the scene this morning and knew someone had died. I just want to send so much love to his family. Do not worry, they will catch the person who left him to die. Â
I just called 911 about 20 minutes ago. Saw an older-ish white van--one of those Mercedes or Freightliner types with cutouts in the side for windows. Had a utility rack and a dent in the hood heading east at 158th and Stark. Didn't see whether it had broken glass.
I hit a deer at 60mph and it smashed the grill but it didn't dent the hood much.
Sometimes it's the PEDESTRIAN using his cell, and usually he's wearing dark clothes and usually you can't see him until you've almost hit him.Â
@tcm And sometimes you're an idiot.
@tcm I'm always on the lookout for morons when I drive. Cautious driving is the way to go.
@tcm And sometimes it's not. That's why you don't leave the scene. FFS, they could have at least taken him to the hospital or called 911.
@tcm Sure, and sometimes accidents happen, but that doesn't mean you can leave the scene.
Maybe a new kind of speed trap is needed. A big fat warning, Automatic spiking available to speeders.First a warning sign showing your speed, a second sign showing your speed with a second waring to slow down..then.. Poof goes your tires ..
I know , I know it is a dumb idea, but, something has got to be done about speeding, maybe replacing tires will get costly enough people will not want to do it.
@lee986321 Driving is a privilege, not a right- i like that idea lee. how do you make exceptions for emergency vehicles though? i suppose someone could write a quick computer program to make it work.Â
@djshimon @lee986321 Care to remind those old people that drive thru buildings that it is a privilege to drive?Â
@Michael La !! Attention Old People that drive through buildings : It is a privilege to drive!
I live near this intersection. Even though the 17th Ave bridge is under construction, they FLY down Holgate. I hope this puts more cops or speed traps there.Â
@ClaireQ816Â There have been a lot of cops in the area lately. I see someone pulled over right about where the unfortunate Mr. Gann was struck this morning, quite frequently. Terrible that he lost his life, but it's a pretty dangerous 2 block stretch between the lights at Milwaukie & 16th
Rest in peace Mr. Gann. Â I hope they catch your killer soon.
@negativerep Yep very sad that someone could do that to another person but unfortunately there seems to be a way to large portion of the population that is so self centered and uncaring that they would leave the scene to protect themselves and let someone lay there to die or get hit again.
So sad and cowardly. Leaving after hitting someone - you must be drunk - or have no soul.
Or both.
I see this too often in the headlines. Pedestrians should know by now that drivers have the right of way. ALL THE TIME! At least that's how it seems. How do you make an Oregonian go blind? Put a windshield in front of them.
Pedestrians have the right-of-way at any intersection (not in the middle of any road) in the crosswalk, unless it says "don't walk". But pedestrians should still LOOK for traffic and not just blindly walk into the street.Â
Pedestrians have the right of way all the time.
@Oregon7812Â PDXBear was being sarcastic
@Oregon7812 Wrong. I don't know where that nonsense originated but it's right there with the "They can't bust you for speeding, only breaking the basic rule" crap that cost kids a lot of money in the '90s.
All intersections are implied crosswalks but that doesn't mean you get to play on the freeway or disobey crosswalks.
@Oregon7812Â They should not cross busy streets diagonally, They need to get in a cross walk
With so many idiots using a cell phone while driving, there is a good chance the driver of the van was using one. Â If so, he should face the same penalty as if he were driving drunk.
@Shadow I'm not sure if I agree with "a good chance the driver was using a cell". I do however like the idea of making the penalty the same as a DUI. In essence they are very similar crimes. A person makes a conscious decision to drive after/while doing something that has been proven to reduce reaction times and decision making abilities as well as hand-eye coordination.Â
@safety-shmafety @Shadow You know what else shouldn't be allowed, People letting their dogs set on their laps when they drive. I almost got hit by an Asian lady and her little kick dog trying to turn a corner, And she was in a SUV, she could hardly see over the stearing wheel
So sorry for the man who got hit and died. The person who did this is about to find out what it's really like to deal with the law. Hope that person is found soon.Â
And they are raising fines for using cell phones while driving. What really needs some serious increases in punishment is DUI and hit-and-run.
Box Van: a box mounted on a Van Chassis.  Box Truck: a box mounted on a truck chassis.  Step Van: a one unit bumper to bumper walk  into thru front door(s) [like ups] van.Â
one of the most common stolen vehicles. Most likely stolen and the guy doesn't have a valid drivers license.
he's at his lawyers office
@Phuzz Â
You suspect Kirk Hanna?
@Icarus @Phuzz Lol!
Please don't shoot up a bunch of innocents like LAPD did.
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Do you think there's a chance they could have fixed it? You should ask them to confirm where they were or maybe call the cops to investigate.
@Oregon7812 @Gravity Works! Uhhh...the accident happened at 5:30 and GravityWorks posted his comment not too long after the story broke.  Pretty unlikely someone could have gotten their car repaired in such a short time frame.  Or were you being sarcastic?
@Oregon7812Â I don't want to be nit-picky, but he posted his comment around an hour after the story broke and he'd already checked the neighbor's van. Â The article says there's a broken window (probably windshield since police expect front-end damage). Â GravityWorks said he'd looked at the van, no damage.....do you seriously think that sounds suspicious? Â The driver would be able to get home, calm himself down enough to think clearly, run out and get his vehicle repaired and windshield replaced in 90 minutes at 6am? Â OK, you're just being silly.
It's unlikely but still possible. I would still be suspicious - particularly because they have a similar looking van.
@Gravity Works! Good citizen