Portland Police Bureau officials have identified Ethan Krebs, 24, as the motorcyclist killed in a July 19 crash on the Northeast 33rd Avenue overpass. His death follows a string of fatal motorcycle accidents in the city, prompting urgent safety warnings from authorities amid a significant rise in traffic fatalities this year.
Fatal Crash on Northeast 33rd Avenue
The KATU confirmed that Ethan Krebs of Portland died in a single-vehicle accident on the evening of Sunday, July 19. Officers discovered Krebs unresponsive on the Northeast 33rd Avenue overpass near Northeast Columbia Boulevard at approximately 7:45 p.m. According to KPTV, emergency medical responders pronounced the rider dead at the scene.
Rising Motorcycle Fatalities in 2026
The incident involving Krebs is part of a broader, concerning trend in Portland traffic safety. KOIN reports that 11 of the 25 total traffic fatalities recorded in the city so far in 2026 have involved motorcyclists. This figure is double the amount recorded by the same time last year and represents a 50% increase over the city’s four-year average for motorcycle-related deaths.
Photo: KPTV
July has been particularly lethal, with police reporting four fatal motorcycle crashes in the city during the month, all of which occurred overnight. Jones, 32, who died on July 13 near Northeast 24th Avenue and East Burnside Street, and Arun Vaco Roy, 32, who was killed in a crash on Northeast Airport Way on July 14. The Portland Police Bureau confirmed that Roy, a resident of Vancouver, Washington, was found deceased by officers and AMR personnel after they were dispatched to the scene at Northeast 138th Avenue.
Law Enforcement Safety Guidance
In response to the surge in fatalities, the Portland Police Bureau has issued a public plea for riders to prioritize safety. Sergeant Betsy Hornstein noted that investigators are seeing a pattern of risky behaviors contributing to these incidents.
Photo: KOIN.com
“What we’re seeing in both our enforcement efforts and fatal crash investigations is that some motorcyclists are making unsafe choices. We continue to see motorcyclists speeding, making sudden or unpredictable movements, lane splitting, and driving while impaired. While drivers of motor vehicles also engage in some of these behaviors, the consequences are often far more severe for motorcyclists. Motorcycles are smaller, less visible to other road users, and offer none of the protection of an enclosed vehicle.”
Police identify motorcyclist killed in crash at 42nd & Memphis
Sergeant Betsy Hornstein, Portland Police Bureau
Police are urging motorcyclists to slow down, ensure they are driving sober, and wear appropriate protective gear. These local warnings align with broader national data; according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists are approximately 27 times more likely to be killed in a crash than occupants of passenger vehicles.
Authorities continue to seek information regarding the recent crashes. Witnesses or anyone with relevant details are encouraged to contact the Portland Police Bureau’s traffic investigators via email at [email protected], specifically referencing case number 26-209860 for the July 19 incident or 26-204576 for the July 14 crash.
