Portland, OR – Pedestrian Fatally Struck by Vehicle on Lancaster Dr NE near Ward Dr

Portland, OR (December 28, 2021) – A crash reported in east Salem claimed one person’s life. At around 2 a.m., on December 25, emergency crews were notified that their assistance was needed on-site at a crash on Lancaster Drive Northeast.

Reports from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office show that a pedestrian was struck by a red Honda Civic while traveling in the area of Lancaster Drive Northeast and Ward Drive during the early morning hours.

The pedestrian sustained severe injuries in the accident. Authorities arrived at the scene and located the pedestrian inside the Honda. However, the driver had left the scene.

The pedestrian was pronounced deceased from their injuries.

The driver, identified as 26-year-old Armando Rodarte Jr, was apprehended by the police later in the morning. Rodarte was charged with hit-and-run/injury, reckless driving, 1st- and 2nd-degree manslaughter, and reckless endangerment.

At this time, the incident remains under investigation.

We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of the victim who lost their life in this accident. Our thoughts are with them at this time.

Fatal Pedestrian Accidents in Oregon

Statistics from 2018 and 2019 show that there was a 22% increase in the number of pedestrians who lost their lives in traffic collisions throughout the state of Oregon. Over 20 people end up losing their lives in crashes in Portland alone. Although we like to think that the enactment of safety measures throughout our state is helping, we continue to see families forced to deal with the consequences of tragic collisions.

Regrettably, around 80% of vehicle collisions are a result of driver action. When drivers are distracted, impaired, or engage in reckless behaviors while operating their vehicles, they are likely to cause accidents with overwhelming consequences.

Although there is nothing that can be done to bring back those taken away unexpectedly due to traffic-related incidents, families may have legal options available to help them move forward after suffering the loss of a loved one due to another person’s actions. By contacting a wrongful death attorney in Portland, families may be able to collect compensation to help cover the financial burdens they face.

Portland Wrongful Death Lawyers

The Portland pedestrian accident attorneys at Kivel & Howard have extensive experience helping bereaved families after enduring the sudden loss of a loved one. Our team strives to help families protect their legal rights moving forward. We keep the best interests of our clients in mind as we put together the strongest legal claim possible to present their case and fight to get them the justice they deserve.

Our team provides competent and effective legal representation while helping our clients navigate the complex legal system throughout the duration of their claims. We put together solid cases on behalf of families to ensure they are in the best position possible. If your loved one has lost their life in a collision, and you believe negligence played a role, contact our personal injury attorneys in Oregon at your earliest convenience. Our team can be reached at (503) 796-0909 or (503) 802-4800. We are available to meet with you and discuss legal options available to help you recover. Don’t wait. Call us today to see how we can help you.

Note:  We utilize several outside sources when creating this accident news post for Kivel & Howard.  Our sources include news and media outlets, state and local police incident reports as well as statements taken from individuals who have witnessed the accident.  Because of this, the facts surrounding this accident have not been independently verified by our writing staff.  If you find any information that is inaccurate in our story, let us know and we will correct the post to reflect the most accurate information available.  We will remove this post from our site upon request.

Disclaimer: These posts are written with the intent to provide Oregonians with overall driving and safety information in an effort to reduce the number of serious accidents that take place on our roads and highways. These posts are not intended to provide medical or legal advice of any kind.  The photograph used in this story is not representative of the actual accident scene.