Police make arrest in fatal Gresham collision

SE Stark near 212th.

A 23-year-old Portland resident has been arrested due to his role in the death of a bicycle rider on Sunday evening.

Gresham Police have charged Kurtis Linn with DUII, Reckless Driving and Manslaughter in the 2nd degree. According to The Oregonian, Linn was driving his Chevy Blazer at nearly twice the speed limit and after consuming two drinks at a local bar prior to the collision.

Linn says he was racing another auto user and lost control of his car, then slammed into another car before he struck and killed Albert Sawdon who was bicycling in the bike lane.

The collision occurred near the intersection of SE Stark and 212th Ave.

Here’s more from The O:

Kurtis Linn told Gresham police officers from an OHSU Hospital bed that he challenged the driver of a Honda Civic to a race along Southeast Stark Street, hit his brakes and steered his Chevy Blazer away when he thought the Honda was going to hit him and crashed, a probable cause affidavit said….

Another driver told investigators he saw Linn’s Chevy and the Honda Civic speeding around 55-60 mph behind him while heading west on Southeast Stark Street and swerving around other cars, the affidavit said. The witness said the Chevy went into oncoming traffic, hit a Ford Escape, spun around and hit Sawdon on his bike.

The Gresham PD is still investigation the collision. If you saw anything, please call them at (503) 618-2719.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

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