(PORTLAND, Ore.) Hello Portlanders! It's Monday, May 15 - Here's your daily round up of all the news happening in the City of Roses.
1. Portland sees 8 overdose deaths in 2 days, fentanyl suspected
The Portland Police Bureau said late Sunday that the deaths of eight people in two days are believed to be drug overdoses, most of them fentanyl-related. The deaths were recorded in different parts of the city from 11:38 a.m. Friday through 4:31 p.m. Sunday.
According to the Portland Police Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit, it appears people “believed they were ingesting cocaine, but that it was really a blend of cocaine and fentanyl or possibly pure powdered fentanyl.” Investigators say this particular batch of “purported cocaine” is extremely dangerous.
The deaths over the weekend include a 38-year-old man inside an apartment on East Burnside; a 42-year-old man in a tent on Southeast Rhine; a 47-year-old man in a car in Sellwood Riverfront Park; an unidentified man in a grassy area near West Burnside and Northwest 8th; a 69-year-old man in an apartment on Northwest Naito Parkway; a 49-year-old man and a 37-year-old man in an apartment on Northeast Sandy Boulevard; and an unidentified person on North Hartman Street.
The investigation into these deaths is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact PPB via crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov.
2. Beaverton student presumed dead after 'tragic swimming accident' near Cannon Beach
A Mountainside High School student died “in a tragic swimming accident” near Cannon Beach over the weekend, Principal Todd Corsetti wrote to parents on Sunday. Jacob Stokes, 18, was remembered as an “easygoing” and “super nice person” who was on the track team and expected to attend Oregon State University in the fall.
Stokes and three other 18-year-olds were at the ocean around 4 p.m. on Friday when all of them were lost from sight. Two of the teens were able to get out of the water themselves and a rescue swimmer found another and brought him to shore. But Stokes was not found.
“Our hearts break for Jacob’s family, his close friends and our entire community at this time of deep sadness and grief,” Corsetti’s letter said. “MHS counselors, in addition to counselors from around the district, will be available to students in the library throughout the day.”
3. Sinkhole closes SE Yamhill Street near Mount Tabor
Southeast Yamhill Street near 76th Avenue has been closed indefinitely after a sinkhole opened up on the edge of Mount Tabor Friday afternoon. Neighbors reportedly put recycling bins and buckets near the hole to warn drivers before city crews arrived to put up barricades around the hole and close the street.
Crews have been on site throughout the weekend. This week, they will begin cleaning it out, filling the hole and making repairs to the street. The Portland Bureau of Transportation says the cause and extent of the damage is under investigation.
Residents can report sinkholes, potholes or other road hazards to the city online or by calling. Portland has a map of pothole and sinkhole repairs.
More Portland News:
- 3 hospitalized after early morning NE Portland bar shooting, suspect at large
- Portland moms hand out care packages, help unhoused people call home
- Ex-Portland journalist ‘unfit’ to stand trial for arson
- ODOT looks to DMV fees to plug deficit; bigger budget problems loom
- VIDEOS: Beached whale, calf return to open ocean off Oregon’s coast
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