Fatal hit-and-run on SE Foster Road
Posted by Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor) on May 4th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
[Thanks to Lieutenant Mark Kruger of the Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division, Anita at KATU-TV and Aaron at KGW-TV for help on this story.]
At 3:51 this afternoon 58-year-old Jerry Alvin Hinatsu (name has not been released) was killed by a hit-and-run driver in outer southeast Portland while riding the wrong-way in the bike lane.

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According to Lieutenant Mark Kruger of the Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division, the crash occurred just outside of the Franz Bakery Outlet at SE 115th and SE Foster Road (map). A mid-late 90s, maroon Honda Accord pulled away from the driveway and onto SE Foster Road, colliding with the cyclist who was riding eastbound in the westbound bike lane.
The motorist they are trying to track down is allegedly a heavy-set hispanic woman with long, straight hair whose name is possibly Jen. Her license plate might include the numbers 176.
Kruger told me they have two witnesses to the crash. One of them was the passenger in the motor vehicle in question. Immediately after the collision, the passenger got out before the driver sped away. Kruger says the passenger is not cooperating with the investigation.
UPDATE: They have found and arrested two women in this case. The Oregonian Breaking News Blog has the story (thanks to Gabriel for the heads up).

UPDATE: From the Oregonian (article here):
“Portland police have identified a bicyclist killed Friday afternoon as 58-year-old Jerry Alvin Hinatsu. Hinatsu was illegally pedaling the wrong way in the bike lane and did not wear a helmet, police said.”
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