PORTLAND, OR — Residents of a small homeless camp off Interstate 205 in Northeast Portland are recounting a terrifying experience after a vehicle crashed into their tents early Friday morning. The incident occurred around 1 a.m. at the intersection of Northeast 97th Avenue and Northeast Glisan Street. The car ended up on a bike path and struck several tents that were set up along the on-ramp and nearby road.
Peter, a resident of the camp, described the moment as “very traumatic.” “The next thing I know, he’s crashing through all of our tents down here on the side,” he said.
Portland police reported that no one was injured in the crash, but the residents expressed how narrowly they escaped serious harm. One man, visibly shaken, said, “If it wasn’t for all of our stuff, we would be dead. The car literally went right over the top of us.”
The crash serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by individuals living in temporary shelters in close proximity to busy roads. While this incident ended without injuries, the close call highlights the vulnerability of people experiencing homelessness in Portland and other urban areas.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash, and local advocates for the homeless continue to call for safer alternatives and greater protection for people living in encampments.
