Collision on SE Powell and 50th results in death of bicycle rider

Aerial view of SE 50th and Powell.

Portland Police have just announced that a man involved in a collision on May 4th has died of his injuries.

This is the first bicycle traffic fatality in Portland since December 2020.

Here’s the PPB statement:

On May 4, 2022, at 11:17 a.m. East Precinct officers responded to the area of Southeast Powell Blvd/Southeast 50th Ave on a report of a bicyclist struck by a vehicle. Upon arrival, they located the man, later identified as 43-year-old Shane Johnson, severely injured. Johnson had been riding an electric bicycle when he was struck by a vehicle. Medical arrived to assist and transported Johnson to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Johnson died on Saturday, May 7, 2022.

Due to the severity of Johnson’s injuries, the Major Crash Team was activated and responded to the scene. The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and was cooperative. MCT investigators learned from witnesses and nearby videos that Johnson entered the roadway unexpectedly for an unknown reason and believe the driver had no time to adjust their course of travel.

As you can see in the map image, 50th and Powell is a intersection of a major arterial (SE Foster) and a state highway (Powell is Highway 26). It’s unclear why PPB mentions the use of an electric bicycle. We’ll update this story as we learn more.

This is the 21st traffic fatality in Portland so far this year, 10 fewer than we had last year at this same date.