A tragic accident claimed the life of a 68-year-old bicyclist in unincorporated Multnomah County earlier this week. The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office is spearheading the investigation into the incident which occurred on South Riverside Drive. Responses were swift, with local agencies including Portland Fire & Rescue and the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) arriving on the scene following a dispatch from the Bureau of Emergency Communications.
Upon the arrival, first responders discovered the cyclist, identified as Rutilo Moreno Jorge, suffering from severe injuries, despite community members' attempted life-saving measures. A bicycle helmet, believed to have been worn by Jorge, was found at the scene, which points towards the concern for safety amid the unfortunate happenings, according to a statement obtained by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office. The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged the support of the PPB’s Major Crash Team for their prompt response and aid.
Initial investigations suggest that Jorge might have lost control of his bicycle, possibly due to hitting a rock, before falling and being struck by a southbound SUV. The 32-year-old driver of the SUV stayed at the scene following the accident. As of now, authorities have not made any arrests nor have they issued citations in relation to the crash. The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office awaits the completion of the investigation, after which the case will be reviewed by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office for potential charging decisions.
In their effort to piece together the events that led to this tragedy, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office commends the community members for their immediate response while also recognizing the efforts of the Lake Oswego Police Department and Oregon Department of Transportation in traffic control logistics. The East County Vehicular Crimes Team, which comprises specially trained members from multiple local agencies, is handling the serious nature of this investigation. They urge anyone with information to come forward and contact them at 503-988-0560, referencing case number 25-44005. No further details or scene photos have been released as Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office’s assessment of the incident remains ongoing and subject to change with new findings.
