Morgan Helms, 30, Dies from Injuries After Being Hit by Vehicle in Portland

Accident – death – Obituary News : Woman Fatally Injured in Portland Crash Passes Away from Injuries

PORTLAND, Ore. – Tragedy struck on September 16 when a woman, identified as 30-year-old Morgan Helms, was critically injured in a crash on Southeast 82nd. Sadly, according to an update from the Portland Police Bureau, Helms succumbed to her injuries soon after the incident.

The incident occurred at the intersection of Southeast 82nd and Crystal Springs Boulevard. The Portland Police received a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle shortly after 9 p.m. When they arrived at the scene, they found Helms suffering from life-threatening injuries.

The driver who hit Helms remained at the scene, and the Major Crash Team of the Portland Police Bureau responded to investigate the incident. However, the driver was not charged or cited. The subsequent traffic investigation confirmed that Helms was crossing Southeast 82nd when the collision occurred.

Initially, the police statement mistakenly reported that Helms had died in the hospital. However, a correction was issued the next day. Weeks after the crash, on September 19, Helms tragically passed away.

This incident adds to the growing number of fatal crashes in Portland this year. Including Helms, there have been a total of 58 deadly crashes in the city. Shockingly, 20 of these crashes involved pedestrians.

In another heartbreaking incident, a pedestrian injured in a similar crash two weeks prior also lost his life. On September 16, officers responded to an area near North Whitaker Road and North Hayden Meadows Drive in Portland’s East Columbia neighborhood. They found 32-year-old Michael Allen Pearcy, who had been hit by a driver. Pearcy was immediately taken to the hospital due to reported head trauma.

Similar to the previous incident, the driver who hit Pearcy stayed at the scene, and no arrests or citations were made by the police. However, on Thursday, a family member informed investigators that Pearcy had passed away from his injuries. The county medical examiner confirmed that Pearcy’s death was a result of the crash.

The alarming number of traffic-related deaths in Portland this year is a cause for concern. Including the tragic deaths of both Helms and Pearcy, the city has witnessed a total of 58 deadly crashes. It is worth noting that these numbers may differ slightly between the Portland Police Bureau and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). NHTSA’s data excludes crashes involving suicide, private property, non-public roadways, non-motor vehicles, or deaths occurring more than 30 days after a crash. According to NHTSA, there have been 57 traffic deaths in Portland.

Furthermore, the city of Portland has experienced an alarming increase in traffic fatalities over the past two years. In both 2021 and 2022, the city recorded 63 traffic deaths, marking a three-decade high. Unfortunately, the number of deaths this year appears to be on par with the previous years.

The concerning rise in traffic-related fatalities highlights the need for increased road safety measures and awareness in Portland. Efforts should be made to enhance pedestrian safety and reduce the number of accidents on the city’s roads..