A driver suspected of intoxication struck and killed an 85-year-old bicyclist in Southeast Portland on Sunday, a day after another cyclist was injured in a hit-and-run in Washington County.
Hiep P. Tran, 54, of Portland, is expected to face charges of criminally negligent homicide and DUII after allegedly hitting 85-year-old Raymond L. Myers near Southeast 145th Avenue and Powell Boulevard around 7 p.m., according to court records.
According to a probable cause affidavit, emergency responders discovered Myers with a significant injury to the back of his head, and officers noted that he “appeared to be deaf or hard of hearing.”
Tran remained at the scene until officers arrived, and an officer who spoke with him stated that he had bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol, according to court records. Tran, who was not wearing shoes at the time, also appeared to have difficulty walking straight or speaking, according to officials.
When officers questioned Tran about the crash, he stated that he was driving from his mother’s house and had been drinking before getting behind the wheel, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Myers was taken to the hospital by emergency responders, and Tran was arrested, according to a statement from the Portland Police Bureau.
Myers died of his injuries on Monday, prompting prosecutors to charge Tran with negligent homicide rather than assault, police said.
Myers is Portland’s 16th traffic fatality this year.
Tran has no prior criminal convictions in Oregon, but court records show that he has received six citations for traffic violations since 2003, the majority of which for exceeding the speed limit.
He is scheduled to appear in court on July 22.
