Early Saturday morning in Goose Hollow, a car barreled through the front doors of the Multnomah Athletic Club and burst into flames, killing one person and drawing a massive response from police and firefighters. Several nearby streets were shut down for hours as investigators worked the scene.
What Officials Say
According to a press release from the Portland Police Bureau, Portland Fire & Rescue was dispatched at 2:49 a.m. on Saturday, May 2, after a vehicle drove through the club's main entrance at 1849 Southwest Salmon Street and caught fire. Once crews knocked down the flames, they found one person dead inside the vehicle, police said.
Recent Pattern At The Building
This is not the first serious incident at the Multnomah Athletic Club entrance in recent weeks. On April 8, a separate vehicle veered onto the sidewalk and slammed into the club's exterior, injuring one person, as KPTV reported. That earlier crash stirred concern among members and neighbors about vehicle access right in front of the club.
Explosive Device Found; Streets Shut Down
In the latest incident, investigators also found evidence of an explosive device inside the vehicle, according to the Portland Police Bureau. The agency said its Explosive Disposal Unit responded to assist with the investigation. While crews worked, Southwest 18th Avenue was closed from Southwest Taylor Street to Southwest Madison Street, and Southwest 20th Avenue was closed from Southwest Morrison Street to Southwest Madison Street, and community members were asked to stay away from the area.
Club Response And Next Steps
As of Saturday morning, there was no public statement about the crash on the Multnomah Athletic Club's website, and the club did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The club's website continued to display regular operating hours and no notice related to the incident.
Police are asking anyone with information who has not yet spoken with investigators to email [email protected]. Officials said additional details will be released when appropriate as the investigation continues.
