Curtis Leroy Palmer Obituary, Death; Driver in multiple NE Portland crashes dies days after hospitalization
Curtis Leroy Palmer Obituary, Death – Authorities in Portland have confirmed that the driver involved in a series of crashes near a Northeast Portland Safeway store last week has died from his injuries. The Portland Police Bureau reported that Curtis Leroy Palmer, 60, of Portland, passed away on Tuesday while hospitalized. His family has been informed of his death.
Palmer was behind the wheel of a silver Ford Escape SUV linked to three back-to-back crashes that occurred six days earlier in the King Neighborhood, near Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and surrounding streets.
One of the collisions claimed the life of pedestrian DaRon Craig, 49, while three other individuals were hospitalized with injuries. Palmer himself was transported to the hospital following the incidents.
Portland Fire and Rescue stated that the first crash occurred just before noon on August 7 in the parking lot of the Safeway store on Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. As crews were responding, a second crash was reported at the nearby intersection of Northeast Ainsworth Street and Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Shortly afterward, a third crash took place south of the Safeway, with injuries reported at each scene.
Investigators initially suspected that the same vehicle, driven by Palmer, was responsible for all three accidents. At the time, authorities said they did not believe the crashes were intentional. Police also noted that Palmer had two prosthetic limbs, though it remains unclear whether this played any role in the incidents.
The investigation into the sequence of events and contributing factors remains active. Officials are urging anyone with relevant information to contact Portland police.
