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Portland police said one of the two pedestrians hit on the Burnside Bridge around 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon has died from his injuries.
(Portland Police Bureau)
UPDATE: Police identify pedestrian who died after being struck by SUV on Burnside Bridge
The male pedestrian hit on the sidewalk of the Burnside Bridge on Sunday has died from his injuries, according to the Portland Police.
Police closed the Burnside Bridge around 2:45 p.m. on Sunday afternoon to investigate after an eastbound driver jumped the curb in his car and hit two pedestrians on the sidewalk before crashing into the south side of the bridge, police reported.
The bridge was reopened to traffic around 5 p.m., though one eastbound lane remained closed for the investigation.
The woman suffered serious injuries that do not appear to be life-threatening, according to police. Police said they do not expect to release the names of the victims until Monday.
The driver of the vehicle that struck the couple was being cooperative, said Sgt. Pete Simpson, spokesman for the Portland Police Bureau. Police later said the driver did not appear to have been impaired and was allowed to leave the scene.
Police said a preliminary investigation by the Traffic Division's Major Crash Team showed the driver left the road around 2 p.m., drove up onto the south sidewalk, hit the victims and then crashed into the bridge railing. The one lane remained closed as crews checked the safety and stability of the railing that was hit.
The victims were on the sidewalk "which makes it that much more frustrating and challenging because we're always trying to reduce crashes like this," Simpson said.
The story will be updated as information becomes available.
-- Laura Gunderson
lgunderson@oregonian.com; 503-221-8378
@lgunderson