A high-speed crash early Saturday tore through roadside hardware off the Powell exit of I-205, sending a BMW through a light pole and chain-link fence before it landed on its side against a parked TriMet bus inside a secured transit yard. Portland Fire crews brought in specialty tools to free two people from the wrecked car, and both were taken to a hospital, where they were later stabilized.
According to a press release from the Portland Police Bureau, officers responded at 1:51 a.m. on June 20 to the ramp from northbound Interstate 205 to SE Powell Boulevard. They found a 1996 BMW 528 on its side against an unoccupied TriMet bus. Police say the driver, 19-year-old Kyrylo Novikov of Vancouver, Washington, appeared to have been partially ejected and was criminally cited for DUII, reckless driving, and recklessly endangering another person. The case number is 26-178742. Portland Fire & Rescue and AMR extricated a 19-year-old man and a 15-year-old girl from the vehicle, transported them to the hospital, and report that both patients were stabilized and are expected to survive.
Crash Ended Inside a Secured TriMet Yard
The sedan’s path was anything but gentle. Police say it destroyed a light pole, struck a tree, then punched through the chain-link fence surrounding a TriMet storage area before coming to rest against the parked bus. TriMet was among the partner agencies credited with assisting at the scene. The transit agency operates secured yards and maintenance facilities where coaches are stored, and TriMet documents lay out how these secured sites and storage yards function.
Powell’s Safety Problem
Southeast Powell Boulevard has long been one of Portland’s highest-crash corridors, a reputation safety advocates say is well earned. The city’s Vision Zero data list Powell among the streets with the highest numbers of deadly and serious-injury crashes, and local coverage has chronicled delays to long-promised safety projects and transit upgrades. The Portland Bureau of Transportation and BikePortland outline the corridor’s crash history and neighborhood concerns in more detail.
Investigation and Next Steps
The Portland Police Bureau is asking anyone who witnessed the crash and has not yet spoken with officers to come forward. The release lists the case number as 26-178742. Investigators say evidence at the scene indicated possible impairment as a factor. Police thanked Portland Fire & Rescue, AMR, the Oregon Department of Transportation, and TriMet for their partnership at the scene as the investigation continues. Witnesses can submit tips through the online portal.
