PORTLAND -- A homeless man was killed in a freak accident on Interstate-405 late Thursday night, police said.
Police said a pickup truck was traveling northbound, when the driver lost control and veered onto the right shoulder just after 11 p.m. The truck flipped after leaving the roadway and hit a homeless man who had been sleeping on the side of the road.
The homeless man was killed instantly. He had been sleeping near where I-405 and Burnside street overlap.
Investigators said alcohol and speed played a role in the crash.
Ismail Haidar witnessed the whole thing, "I have experienced many accidents on Burnside, I've heard lots of noise, but this was one of the worst I've ever really heard," he said.
The adult male driver and his three passengers were all injured in the crash. They were transported to Legacy Emanuel Hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, police said.
"I just heard a big noise, like a car going at a high speed then all of a sudden the car tried to stop and was hitting the brakes, but he was unable to control the car," said Haidar.
The Portland Police Bureau's Major Crash Team was called to the scene to investigate.
The driver was later identified as Alvaro Lugos-Ponce, 23. Police said he was facing several charges including manslaughter in the 2nd degree, assault, DUII and reckless driving.
The victim has not yet been identified, police said.
