Driver arrested after crash that killed 2 in Portland
»Play Video
PORTLAND, Ore. – Police said a man was taken into custody after a crash in Southeast Portland that killed two people Saturday.
The two victims in the crash Saturday evening were 55-year-old Paul Lawrence Knepper and his 90-year-old mother Hazel Agnes Knepper.
It happened at Southeast 28th Place and Gladstone Street just before 5 p.m.
Investigators said a Cadillac SUV went through a stop sign and hit the Toyota Corolla driven by Paul Knepper.
Three people in the SUV ran away from the scene, but a 29-year-old man suspected of being the driver was later taken into custody near Southeast 29th Avenue and Powell Boulevard.
Police say Daniel Troy Johnson is facing two counts of second-degree manslaughter and other charges including DUII and hit-and-run. He was taken to the Multnomah County Jail and will appear in court on Monday.
The two others haven't been found.
Teressa, who witnessed the crash and didn't want to give her last name, said she's still in shock over what happened.
|
CRACKING DOWN Lawmakers want to increase the penalties for hit and run crashes. House Bill 2542 would increase the time someone loses their driver's license to three years if they are convicted of failing to perform the duties of a driver. That's if the crash causes serious physical injuries to any person involved. For fatal crashes, the penalty would be more severe. |
"I just saw two people slumped over, non-responsive," she said. "Then I heard other people saying that he, that they were both gone, and kind of cursing the driver who would be so irresponsible.
"It's tough to think how someone who was just making a really poor choice has affected two families, for, forever."
Friends and neighbors remembered the Kneppers as a loving mother and son.
"They were really sweet and kind to each other," said neighbor Amy Jack.
Paul Knepper often drove his mother Hazel around, as he was doing Saturday, Jack said.
Michael Harding said Paul Knepper occasionally worked for him as a carpenter.
"[He was] a young guy. A lot of life ahead of him," said Harding. "And his mother, a registered nurse and a dang good provider for his family."
"I couldn't have wished for sweeter neighbors, really," said Jack. "They were just kind people and it's really sad that people drink and drive."
A fourth person in the SUV, 28-year-old Benjamin Chase Arce, remained at the scene. He was taken to a hospital non-life threatening injuries.
Police said a dog was also inside the SUV. It was taken by Multnomah County Animal Control.
Anyone with information on the other two passengers is asked to call Officer Pete Kurronen at 503-823-2208.
KATU's Bob Heye and Erica Nochlin contributed to this story.
These comments make me sick. I am deeply sorry for the lives lost, but those of you talking about death, how would you feel if it was your son or daughter that was the drunk driver? You would be devestated. And then you would see all these ass holes leaving comments about how they wish they would be executed. What a horrible thing. Negative comments need to be kept to themselves. there should be nothing but supporting posts to the family who had lives lost. not a bunch of dick heads making comments. He messed up. We all know it. This is a sad sad situation. But again, think of EVERYONE involved before posting your comments.
This comment has been deleted
I think that would require him specifically planning to kill these two people. But I get what you're saying.
Wheres glenn beck or rush limbaugh to stand up for this guy's rights? probably was on his way to his calculus class. amidoingitrite?
@Trickledownhe had the right to drink and the right to drive but not the right to drive intoxicated. Â He failed to act responsibly and should lose those rights. Â The difference for the panicked far left is that if they applied their logic on cars that they do for guns, neither the victim or the murderer would be allowed to drive and only the police would be able to use a car.
@Trickledown I guess we know what side of the river you live on! No, you did not do it right and to bring two talk show hosts into whatever you are trying to do makes for a sad statement on your part...
We saw this piece of cr@p being arrested last night, and it was clear that he was incredibly wasted. At the time we wondered why there were so many police cars and a ladder truck blocking access to Powell on a dead end street. Now I know, and am so glad they got him. Condolences to the family of the victims. I hope this jerk gets as long a sentence as possible.
@medborgare I'd prefer a short sentence. A short rope, I mean.
I'm sure they (in the SUV) were all smoking weed!!! It's a familiar sight to see people light up while driving now... But yeah pot is harmless right??? Think again!
@harley-tim They were drunk, moron!
@terre08Â @harley-timÂ
DUII (in Oregon) covers both alcohol and drugs, even prescription drugs..
Sadly, because he killed them with a car he will probably get off with about 5-10 years!
So, Daniel....how does it feel to be a killer?
You made the choice to drink and drive, when you knew better.
You murdered two good people.
You didn't have the right to do that.
Until the punishment for hit and run is greater than the punishment for drunk driving, the drunks will always choose to run. Cowards.
To whomever placed the beautiful crucifix on the telephone pole at the crash site, THANK YOU. My Aunt Hazel would have loved it. She and all of her siblings are smiling down at you. She was the sweetest woman you could ever have known. Thank you. Erin
@E. M. P. RNÂ He was a classmate of Paul's. Â KGW had him as part of their interview. Â He might be on the clip on their website. Â He was very touched by the people who were there and tried to help (he was able to speak to one of the neighbors first on scene). Â I'm sure he was honored to do this for the entire family.
@E. M. P. RNÂ
Awww That was so king & loving of somebody to do that. It's also very kind of you to come here & acknowledge them. <3 It sounds like your Aunt Hazel was a wonderful lady.
My heart goes out to you & your family and you're in my families prayers. Many kind & decent folks posted  their condolences below.
May God Bless you & your family and help you through this tragic loss.
OK, now how  many more innocent souls need to die before our lawmakers and judges enact stiffer laws to punish these drunk drivers.
s
It is possible that we have reached a point in our society in which others that are aware of these drinking and driving offenders, will get the punishment! Some abusers of alcohol just won't stop, but those around them know when they go get behind the wheel...the enabler needs to call 911 and report the issue, otherwise, they are guilty of aiding and abettting, in the least.
@D. Huffman Yeah - the Nazis and Soviet Union tried that.
@ponygirl1998Â @D. Huffman Goodwin's law, it never takes long for a moron to mention the Nazis.
@ponygirl1998 @D. Huffman I'm confused by your comment.  The Nazis and Soviet Union tried aiding and abetting?  The Nazis and Soviet Union called 911 to report a drunk driver?  What are you saying?
Copied from one of my earlier posts, but applicable here too:  Hit-and-runs are pretty cowardly, but leaving people to die is just beyond cold and callous. I'd bet money that when the police found this guy he claimed he left the scene to find help... or that he had some sort of head injury that made him forget he'd caused injuries to people...  There's always an excuse. The best excuse I ever heard from a guy I arrested years ago was, "The guy was dead, so there wasn't anything I could do, and it doesn't do anyone any good for me to go to jail." Â
DUII drivers are selfish pigs, each and every one of them. Â I hope the judge metes out the maximum possible punishment for this guy to help set an example for the rest.
DUIs where the DUI driver kills someone should be premedicated murder.
@Mikey you are so right.  a car is a lethal weapon and the premeditation was when  chose to go  thru the intersection and drink and drive.  Just try to tell our idiot lawmakers this.
It would be just like premeditated murder, but just for DUI drivers.
Minimum 10 years for each victim. Another 10 if they run away.
@MikeyBetter yet lets just shoot them and be done with it.
@MikeyÂ
Make that time sentenced x3 if they leave the scene.
DUI and the driver lives, where is the justice.
This won't change, it will only get worse.
The lawmakers here in Oregon are only conerned about keeping PERS funded to keep more votes now, and making the Illegals into Legals for votes in the future.
Sorry honest taxpaying legal citizens, you take a back seat to the ignorant voting bloc that keeps the liberals in power.
@Lo Pan Blaming liberals for drunk driving, you're an idiot.
@terre08 @Lo Pan And you're an internet bully, you and the other person responding to you.
Wow, don't agree with someone's post so you insult them by calling them an idiot; you're a liberal bully.
@terre08Â @Lo PanÂ
I know - right. Back home in the South where conservatives rule just about everything we had plenty of DUI/DWI accidents as well. In fact, it seemed like we had a lot more of those accidents than I hear about here and we had a smaller population base. This is pretty much a problem everywhere - too many drunks driving and not enough punishment for them when they cause an accident. It has nothing to do with liberals or conservatives.
My uncle was killed by a drunk hit-and-run driver in October. It was the driver's second offense for hit-and-run and the guy was only sentenced to six years (only two were for the actually death). We need to have more punishment for people to STOP being so stupid, reckless and irresponsible. My deep condolences for the family of the people who died; and I also feel badly for the family of the driver. They will have to live with his mistake for the rest of their lives, too.
@QueenÂ
I'm very sorry for your loss.. It seems nearly everyone has been affected by a drunk driver in some way. The laws need to be tougher and enforced! The police can arrest them but if the DA gives them a deal or they get let out early,,, if they didn't pay a high enough price, they'll do it again..Â
Upon release, these offenders should be put on that medication that make them sick when they drink alcohol.. What was it? Anabuse (sp?)Â
Again, I'm sorry for your loss! :(
@cwpholder It isn't just on the DA's shoulders.  The laws are too weak.  This should never be a misdemeanor charge of manslaughter.  Any time someone drinks and/or drugs and drives and that results in someone's death, it should be murder.  This isn't the same as someone who hits a pedestrian wearing dark clothing crossing the street illegally and dies (and the driver stays at the scene).  I could see that as manslaughter.
Its becoming clear, too, that using a cell phone probably should also be elevated to the murder level. Â The actions the driver takes clearly suggest that the end result will most likely be serious injury or death. Â Very little difference in my mind if you're playing russian roulette with a gun on the street or if you chose to drive after using drugs or alcohol (or cell phones).
I have never so many "hit and runs" as I have over the past few years. Tragically, it seems to be almost an every day occurrence.Â
Lawmakers in Oregon need to bolster the laws relating to hit and runs. What I would like to see is: a person who is found guilty of leaving the scene of an accident in which death occurs, should see another AUTOMATIC five or ten years added to their sentence, no questions asked. If one had the cognitive ability to know that they've done wrong and leave, then they should be held accountable for their actions.
My Grandma and Uncle were the people who passed away, thank you for your kind words and support!
@Angelena Knepper Our condolences to you and your family Angelena.  Nothing I can say could even begin to say how badly I feel for you & yours and the anger I feel at the guilty party. I can only hope they give him the max.. Â
@Angelena Knepper Best wishes to your family.
I am so sorry for your loss.Â
I am so very sorry for your loss Angelena. My thoughts are with your family.
@Angelena Knepper ~  My heartfelt condolences to you and your family, Angelena... I don't know why it happens, but it seems that so often, innocent people like your grandma and uncle, and you and your family, suffer for the actions of heartless and irresponsible cowards who care nothing about the lives and well-being of others. Â
I hope that you and your family will find comfort and solace in the memories of the time and love that you shared with your grandma and your uncle; and that you will find strength in each other in the days ahead. Â Â
@Angelena Knepper Angelena, your family has the support of the community right now and, if any of us could have done something to change the outcome of that moment in time, I'm sure we  would have at least had the opportunity to do something.  I'm sorry you had to lose two people who you cared about and who cared about you -- especially in such a tragic and public way.
In case you didn't see my warning below, its probably best that you stay off of the news forums or from posting (too much) because some of the people who post like to add to your pain and, more importantly, you have information the rest of us don't have. Â You may end up saying something that could hurt a criminal case. Â I know you certainly wouldn't want that.
So go be with the real people who you know trust and care about you and honor the spirit of your Uncle and Grandmother. Â I have a feeling the neighbors in that community need to know, more than most of us, that the family is ok. Â Maybe a small garden, fountain, or sign or something to honor your relatives and help everyone heal might be in order...
May the good memories of your Uncle and Grandmother far outweigh everything that happened yesterday (and, sadly, for the future getting through the trial).
@Angelena KnepperÂ
Awww I'm so sorry. Â There are no words appropriate to express how deeply sorry I am. I hope you & your family will be allowed to grieve in peace and not be hounded by the media. My heart goes out to you. All you can do is be there for your family members and allow them to be there for you. <3
I'll say a prayer for you & your family. <3
@Angelena KnepperAngelena: I am so sorry for your loss. I wish I had words which would help to heal the wounds. What happened to your Uncle and Grandmother was truly tragic and to add insult to the wounds, the perpetrator decides to try and run. I hope that justice is served.Â
@Angelena Knepper So sorry for your family's loss. Words are not enough at a time like this.
Dear idiot with removed posts indicting the rims on this SUV obviously meant they were NE gang members & alluded to their race...  I guess now you know you were wrong.  It's unfortunate you will never figure out HOW MANY WAYS you are wrong. Â
What? Driver ran a stop sign and killed two people? Didn't know a bicycle could cause that much damage. After all, we all know that only cyclists run stop signs.
@Nobody you truly are a nobody aren't you? No one believes that bicyclists are the only ones who run through stop lights and stop signs and for to mention that here about this story is heartless.
I have to express my condolences to the friends and family of the victims of this accident. I can feel for your loss. I can only imagine how hard things are for your entire family right now.Â
Every time you leave your home, you may not make it back. Don't forget to take time with friends and family.
I hate to say it but in my past, I have been guilty of DUII. I did not get caught. I did not hurt anyone. I was lucky. I am sure many readers here, like me, were lucky. Lucky to make it through that phase of my life without ruining my life or someone else's life. On the basis of that fact, I cannot judge anyone else who had the same poor judgement I also had years ago. Â
Having said that, the fact that these people ran away raises the level of guilt - at least in my mind. At the very least, in all circumstances in life, you have to take responsibility for what you've done - the good you've done and the bad things you've done. If you're going to be out doing something you know is wrong, risking your life and everyone else's life, the least you can do is take responsibility. Stay around and try to help clean up your mess.Â