Pedestrian killed in NE Portland crash identified as father of 4

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Authorities have publicly identified a pedestrian who was killed in a Northeast Portland crash on Thursday following three crashes in the area that appear to be related, according to officials.

On Thursday, Portland Fire and Rescue crews responded to reports of a crash in the parking lot of the Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Safeway store just before noon. At the same time, a second accident was reported near the Safeway at the intersection of Ainsworth Street and SE MLK Boulevard.

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On Friday, the Portland Police Bureau identified a pedestrian involved in a third crash — that took place south of the Safeway — as 49-year-old DaRon Craig.

Another pedestrian involved in a crash remains hospitalized with “extremely serious” injuries, PPB said, noting his condition “has stabilized and his injuries are no longer believed to be life-threatening.”

In total, officials said four people were injured in the crashes and taken to a hospital, and one death was reported.

Responding to the scene, police found the two pedestrians on the sidewalk near MLK and Jarrett. Craig was declared dead at the scene, and the other pedestrian was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Craig’s ex-wife, Angeline McKinney-Craig, told KOIN 6 she was there moments after the crash.

“I just walked up to him, walked up there and saw him lying there and just lay down with them. I held his hand for a second and checked for a pulse, and they said he didn’t have one. You know that they’re trying to get him back,” she said.

Officials said the driver who hit the two pedestrians kept driving, crossed the median and hit two cars head-on.

Police released more information about the crash early Thursday evening, explaining that a driver of a silver Ford Escape SUV — initially going northbound on MLK — may have been the source of all three crashes. However, police don’t believe it was intentional.

The Ford Escape had stopped at the third crash scene, and the driver was also taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. In addition, the driver of the Ford Escape “has two prosthetic limbs,” and police said they are unsure if that was a factor in the crashes.

“The major crash team will investigate, determine what took place, and if there is criminal liability, then, you know, they’re going to work with the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office to determine that,” Sgt. Kevin Allen said Thursday. “I’ve been told just because of the significance of this crash, that the Multnomah County DA’s office is actually going to respond to the scene.”

Allen says it’s not unusual for the DA’s office to respond and help out at scenes like this.

Authorities said no arrests have been made and no citations have been served in the case, which remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Portland police.

Anyone interested in assisting Craig’s family can donate on GoFundMe.