In the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, August 17, 2025, a vibrant Portland night turned tragic at the bustling intersection of Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Holladay Street in the city’s Lloyd District. Gerardo A. Ortiz Henriquez, a 24-year-old Portland resident with dreams of becoming a nurse, lost his life in a devastating collision that has left the community reeling and searching for answers.
The incident unfolded just before 3 a.m., when Gerardo, a certified nursing assistant at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, was riding on the back of a Lime e-scooter operated by an unnamed companion. The pair, enjoying a night out with friends, were struck by a tractor-trailer in a moment that shattered the quiet of the early morning. Portland Police officers, responding to a distress call at 2:46 a.m., arrived to a heartbreaking scene: Gerardo was pronounced dead at the intersection, his life cut short in an instant. The scooter’s operator, seriously injured, was rushed to a nearby hospital, where they are expected to recover from non-life-threatening injuries.
Investigators have revealed chilling details about the crash. Neither Gerardo nor the scooter operator was wearing a helmet, a critical safety measure that might have altered the outcome. Authorities are also exploring the possibility that alcohol impairment played a role, adding a layer of complexity to the investigation. The Portland Police Bureau’s Traffic Investigations Unit, working closely with Multnomah County prosecutors, is meticulously piecing together the events to determine if criminal charges are warranted.
The tractor-trailer driver, whose identity remains undisclosed, did not stop at the scene, sparking initial suspicions of a hit-and-run. However, a vigilant witness trailed the truck, leading police to locate the driver at Highway 224 and Southeast Johnson Road. After questioning, authorities determined the driver was unaware of the collision at the time and has since fully cooperated with the investigation. Police have emphasized that this was not a hit-and-run, a clarification that has shifted the focus to the circumstances surrounding the crash itself.
Gerardo’s loss has sent shockwaves through his family and community. A GoFundMe page, launched by his loved ones, paints a picture of a young man full of promise, dedicated to caring for others and pursuing his nursing education. His death, described as a sudden and senseless tragedy, has left those who knew him grappling with grief. The fundraiser underscores the profound impact Gerardo had, noting that he was simply enjoying a night out with friends when fate intervened.
As the investigation continues, Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, a vital artery of Portland’s Lloyd District, was temporarily closed between Northeast Multnomah and Pacific Streets to allow the Portland Police Traffic Division’s Major Crash Team to conduct their work. The closure, though brief, served as a somber reminder of the fragility of life in the face of such accidents.
The Portland Police Bureau is urging anyone with information about the crash to come forward, hoping to bring clarity to this heartbreaking incident. For now, the city mourns the loss of Gerardo A. Ortiz Henriquez—a young man whose aspirations and warmth touched many, gone too soon in a collision that has left a community searching for solace and answers.