DaRon Craig; Family loses home to fire weeks after loved one killed in crash

DaRon Craig – The family of DaRon Craig, who was killed last week when a car struck him while he was walking on a Portland, Oregon sidewalk, is facing another devastating setback. Just hours after holding a vigil in his memory on Friday, the family’s home was damaged by a fire, leaving them temporarily displaced.

According to Portland Fire and Rescue, investigators believe the blaze may have started from embers left over from a barbecue that had been placed on bark chips in the front yard. The family had gathered for a barbecue before attending the vigil for DaRon.

DaRon’s ex-wife and lifelong friend, Angeline McKinney-Craig, recalled smelling smoke early Saturday morning around 8 a.m. When she opened the front door to check, she was met with a rush of heavy smoke. “I just broke down on the ground because how much more can you lose? How much more can you go through?” she said.

Thankfully, Angeline was able to get all the children out of the home safely. However, the fire caused major damage to the front porch, and smoke damage rendered the house unlivable. The family has since moved into a hotel while they determine their next steps.

“All I could think about is, you know, this was our only stability, you know, that we had. And it just… it just all was happening all at the same time and it was just too much,” Angeline explained.

Despite the tragedies, Angeline said the outpouring of community support has been a source of comfort. Friends, neighbors, and strangers have stepped in to help in any way possible. The GoFundMe campaign she set up to cover DaRon’s funeral expenses has already raised nearly \$26,000.

“That’s all I can do is just believe that, you know, the community has been great. And so I have to believe that no matter what, we’ll be okay in the end through all of this,” she said.

The Portland Police Bureau confirmed that the investigation into the crash that killed DaRon is still ongoing, as authorities work to determine exactly what happened in the fatal incident.