The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office is currently investigating the death of Francis Thomas Grice, Jr., a 39-year-old man who perished in a single-vehicle crash on Sauvie Island. According to a press release posted on their website, the tragic incident was first reported around 2:50 p.m. on Monday, following the discovery of a vehicle on fire with human remains found in proximity at the 23000 block of Northwest Oak Island Road, as per the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.
As communicated in the MCSO release, Grice was the sole inhabitant of the pickup at the time of the fire. While detectives do not suspect the presence of any other individuals, the cause of the single-vehicle crash is still under scrutiny. Awaiting toxicology results from the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office, the MCSO did not offer further information on the circumstances leading to Grice's demise.
The severity and mysterious nature of this event prompted the involvement of MCSO's Detective Unit, who initiated a death investigation. An experienced detective from the East County Vehicular Crimes Team (VCT) has taken the lead on the case. This specialized unit comprises members from local law enforcement agencies, including the MCSO, Gresham Police Department, and Multnomah County District Attorney's Office, tasked with the investigation of severe and fatal vehicular incidents across multiple jurisdictions.
For updates on this investigation and more information about the East County Vehicular Crimes Team, readers can visit the MCSO’s website.
