A recent e-scooter incident resulting in the death of 45-year-old Randy Lee Phelps is now under investigation by the Portland Police Bureau (PPB). On August 18, Phelps was reportedly maneuvering his electric scooter through Southeast 52nd Avenue and Southeast Mitchell Street when a pothole led to a fall, causing severe head injuries, as reported by the Portland Police Bureau. Taken to a local hospital, he unfortunately succumbed to his injuries on September 11. The PPB, having been alerted through media inquiries, now confirms that Phelps’s case aligns with the criteria for a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash.
The PPB initially only sent medical assistance to the scene, suggesting that the scope of the incident wasn’t fully understood at the time. This case, having been retrospectively recognized as an NHTSA crash, has prompted the PPB Traffic Investigations Unit (TIU) to update its records promptly. Portland has experienced 30 fatal crashes this year, with 29 being attributed to NHTSA-recognized incidents. This figure captures crashes traditionally outside of the NHTSA criteria, including those on private properties, suicides, or those delayed deaths occurring more than 30 days post-crash…