Pedestrian killed in hit and run is identified
PORTLAND, Ore. – A pedestrian was hit and killed by a car in Southeast Portland Wednesday night and the driver left the scene, according to police.
Police responded to a hit-and-run call at about 9:30 p.m. They arrived at Southeast 71st and Powell to find a 60-year-old man suffering from life-threatening injuries.
The victim was taken to the hospital where he later died. He has since been identified as David Charles Eklund.
Lt. Chris Davis with the Portland Police Bureau said Eklund had almost finished crossing the street in the crosswalk when he was hit.
Davis said the vehicle stopped briefly and then left the scene. The car the suspect was driving was a black, smaller SUV that was last seen going west on Powell toward downtown.
Witnesses said the driver was a white male in his 30s or 40s with short, black hair.
Police are continuing their investigation and are looking into whether the incident was caught by security cameras at nearby businesses. Davis said they are also looking into what the traffic signals were showing when the man was hit.
Davis said that "anytime you are involved in a traffic crash with another vehicle or pedestrian or anything else that results in an injury, you are required by Oregon law to stay at the scene and render assistance."
Anyone with information about the crash is urged to contact Officer Chris Johnson with the Traffic Division at (503) 823-2103.
With all of the cell phone camera videos that end up on youtube, why did no one catch this on video? With license number, height and weight of the driver?
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To leave the scene is wrong. The driver may have been terrified of what they did. Hopefully they will stand up and do the right thing.
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According to RalphCramden, pedestrians who get hit and killed are always responsible and don't deserve our sympathy.
Actually this pedestrian was in the crosswalk, and almost completed crossing. If this is about the jaywalker who was hit on the bridge, they broke the law, failed to obey signs etc.
Two separate issues actually.
The driver in this case left the scene, no one knows yet why. The one on the bridge stopped and was found not at fault.
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Hit and Run is a coward's act.
You must understand that my opinion of my fellow human beings is at a low level after reading the article about teenagers stealing kids Halloween candy at gunpoint in Tacoma. However, even at that, the rash of hit-and-runs in the area is dragging my opinion even lower. To seriously injure/kill another person and take off is beyond low. And we are seeing so much of this sort of behavior.
 @NobodyÂ
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This epidemic of hit-and-runs isn't just restricted to our Pacific Northwest, but across the country. I am a native Vermonter living in Oregon, so to keep up with what is happening back there I got to Albany. NY's channel 13 website; http://wnyt.com/index.shtml; for news around the region there. It is happening there too with as much frequency.
 @Nobody News bias, here they say "white male", Tacoma crimes does not list race, I have an issue with this.
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Either list race for all stories or none- that is non-biased.
 @deejm2112  @Nobody The difference in the two stories is the suspects were caught and arrested in Tacoma before the story broke and the driver of the hit and run is still at large.  Listing any available identifying description of a suspect at large (in this case race, gender and basic vehicle description) allows for the chance the public might be able to aid police in their investigation. Â
 @LovesLilies  @Nobody I understand this, but I have seen way too often, if a black person commits the crime it's omitted and usually the video (if available) or witness statement will say what the race of the perp was. It's totally and completely biased.
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I hope they catch the scum bag that did this.
I would have thought that hit-and-run would be tougher and tougher to pull off with all the cameras in the world. Half the population is walking around with a cellphone camera, every building, drive-thru and parking lot seems to have security cameras. Seems hard to believe that one of them didn't catch a picture-or better yet a license plate- of the guy.
 @al_02 A large majority of those cameras don't have high enough resolution to clearly capture a license plate, but there is most likely at least one decent photo of the vehicle itself. Hopefully the police can use it to bring this driver to justice. It is NEVER ok to leave the scene of a collision, especially when there is an injury! Well, ok maybe if your cell phone doesn't work & you need to go somewhere to find help but then you should go right back.
Lowest of low to leave the scene. Hope the person pulls through.
 @Lips Um, the headline says "pedestrian dies"
 @Robert Wilmoth  @Lips Try reading the entire headline "Pedestrian dies after hit-and-run on SE Powell BlvdBy KATU.com Staff Published: Oct 31, 2012 at 10:19 PM PDT Last Updated: Nov 1, 2012 at 7:46 AM PDT"Â
 @Robert Wilmoth Um, the headline changes as the situation changes. My condolences to the family.
 @LAHobbs I'm so incredibly sorry for your loss. I know the pain of losing someone. Don't hold your sorrow back, let the grief take it's course, in time the pain will ease, and happy memories will return. Hugs.
It was the brother of a life long friend of mine. He was like a brother to me. I am so sad and full of grief.
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 @Robert Wilmoth  @Lips It may not have said that 10 hours ago.