Tragedy struck the St. Johns neighborhood late Saturday night when a catastrophic two-vehicle collision ended in flames, claiming the lives of two individuals. According to the Portland Police Bureau, the fatal incident occurred at the intersection of North Marine Drive at North Leadbetter Road at approximately 11:02 p.m.

The destructive force of the impact left one car ablaze, a sight responded to by both the North Precinct and the Traffic Division officers along with Portland Fire & Rescue, who extinguished a fire. The unfortunate aftermath revealed two deceased in the charred wreckage. A third victim, suffering from traumatic injuries, has been whisked away to the hospital for much-needed medical attention.

In light of the calamity, the Portland Police Traffic Division Major Crash Team has taken the helm of the investigation, shutting down North Marine Drive from North Bybee Lake Road to North Pacific Gateway Boulevard to comb through the chaos of the crash site. The closure aimed to lend investigators the space to piece together the sequence of events that led to this grim scene.

The names of the victims have yet to be released. Community members have been urged to seek alternate routes while the thorough investigation is in progress. Investigation to determine the cause of the crash remains ongoing.