On September 11th, Portland police officers found a pedestrian killed in the street at around 4:38 a.m. Law enforcement suspects that the individual was in or near a crosswalk on Southeast Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard when they were struck by a vehicle and killed. The responsible vehicle was not found at the scene and fled…
As leadership, ownership and holdings of insurance companies change, so do insurers. Yesterday’s great insurer may be a lousy insurer today. Of course, an insurer’s leaders and owners can impact how effective and honest an insurer will be. Most consumers are not aware, however, that insurers make most of their money on investments, not the…
On July 10, Jose Marcelino “Marcel” Castillo-Pacheco and his family were camping at Oxbow Park near Springdale when the 33-year-old drowned. Castillo-Pacheco was a bright soul who actively enjoyed skateboarding around the area and in competitions. The skateboarding community remembers him as a fearless, free-spirited individual who actively uplifted those around him. A portrait of…
On September 13th, 2021, law enforcement responded to a home on fire at around 2:20 a.m. in Troutdale, Oregon. A neighbor said that he was woken from his sleep by a large explosion that shook his and a few other homes. He then saw flames above the trees and took a few pictures. The Gresham…
Between Washington County and the coastal town of Tillamook is Highway 6 — one of Oregon’s most dangerous roads to drive on. With most of Route 6 consisting of narrow, two-lane roads, limited shoulder space, and blind curves, many individuals suffer severe injuries and even death from head-on collisions when attempting to pass in restricted…
A recent report from The Washington Post shows that Black people and people of color die at a rate of almost 25% higher than white people in traffic crashes on United States roadways. The article also states that the disparity worsened during the coronavirus pandemic, despite nationwide stay-at-home orders. The article also noted that pedestrians…
Attorney Richard Rizk is proud to serve as a Transportation Ambassador for the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT). Ambassadors are volunteers from our community who represent the bureau at community events and activities. Being an ambassador doesn’t take up much personal time, either! All volunteers are asked to work a minimum of two events each…
The Oregon Department of Transportation reports that between 10,000 and 12,000 crashes happen each year. In response to the vehicular violence crisis, the city council passed the 2021–2022 budget, including PBOT Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty’s $450,000 amendment that will provide street safety interventions. Along with the increased budget, the Oregon Senate passed House Bill 2530,…
On June 24, 2021, the Champlain Towers South condominium building collapsed at around 1:19 a.m. The center of the 12-story building fell first, and less than six seconds later, the eastern side of the building collapsed. The horrifying event caused 98 fatalities and left many facing severe injuries and emotional terror. The survivors and family…
It’s every parent’s fear — believing that the baby sleeper they placed their infant in was safe, only to experience their child suffer serious injury or death because the product was faulty. Recently, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the popular Rock ‘n Play sleeper manufactured by Fisher-Price. Many other sleepers, such as baby…