The man responsible for a horrific hit-and-run spree in Portland that left one woman dead and several others injured has been deemed unfit to stand trial. Paul Rivas, the accused driver in the deadly 2021 incident, has been ordered by a judge to be committed to the Oregon State Hospital for a minimum of two years, KGW reported. This decision has notably stirred frustration among the victims' families, as they face the prospect of revisiting the trauma at future commitment hearings. "Every two years, we get to go through this again and not fully get closure," Tessa White, daughter of the deceased victim, told KGW.
During the rampage, Rivas hit and killed 77-year-old Jean Gerich and seriously injured several others. A retired pediatrician who witnessed the attack and provided first aid described the scene to the court, recounting his attempt to assist Gerich after she had been struck by Rivas. "I said, ‘What’s your name?’ She said Jean. It was so incredulous," Jack Schunk told KPTV. Members of the community stepped in to help, providing first aid supplies and a blanket for the injured woman.
Rivas was arrested after a group of witnesses and victims managed to corner him until police arrived. Although he was indicted on 31 charges, including second-degree murder and attempted murder, and pleaded not guilty – his mental fitness for trial has been in question since the initial findings in 2021 and again in 2023. Prosecutors have expressed skepticism that Rivas will ever be fit to stand trial, hence their push for his commitment to a mental health facility, as reported by KATU.
The impact on the victims remains profound, one survivor named Angel recalled being struck by Rivas during the spree and was "miraculous" in the wake of the event for sustaining no broken bones, according to KATU. The decision to commit Rivas into a state hospital rather than proceed with a criminal trial marks a turning point in the case, it remains a contentious verdict for those seeking justice and serves as a reminder of the long, often painful journey toward healing in the aftermath of tragedy.
