Cyclist Killed by Tractor-Trailer on SE Powell Blvd
50 year-old Sarah Pliner (a renowned Portland chef) was hit and killed by a tractor-trailer while trying to cross the street near Cleveland High School. The collision occurred at SE 26th and Powell Blvd (Highway 26). According to published reports, this area of Powell Blvd is extraordinarily dangerous. There are a large number of pedestrians in the area who do not fit onto the available sidewalk space, tight right-turns, and heavy traffic. The Oregon Department of Transportation owns this stretch of Powell Blvd and, it appears, has negligently maintained it. Repeated protests over repeated bicycle injuries at the intersection have occurred. In some instances, bicycle accidents are actually caused by negligent design of the roadway.
In other instances, particularly involving tractor-trailers, the tractor-trailer accident is caused by the negligence of the truck driver and/or the negligence of the trucking company. Portland Truck Accidents are NOT regular accidents. Truck ownership and liability can be complicated; truckers are subject to more rules, regulations, and laws than the average driver. Some trucks carry a “black box” which records various data points, including traveling speeds at various points in time.
