PORTLAND, Ore. — The man accused of driving his Mazda Tribute SUV on the sidewalk at Portland State University described what led up to the crash in a phone interview with KGW. Three women were seriously injured in the May hit-and-run crash.
“The day that this happened, I guess I just lost it because I called the bank and I’m $200 in the hole and I mean, problem after problem after problem,” 61-year-old Greg Porter said from Multnomah County Jail.
In a wide-ranging interview about his past, Porter described financial problems, a troubled marriage and struggles with depression. He declined to share specifics about the May 25 incident in downtown Portland due to the ongoing criminal case.
Porter pleaded not guilty to attempted aggravated murder, first-degree assault and failure to perform the duties of a driver to injured persons.
Porter said he spent the morning of the crash in a Southeast Portland park. The night before, he’d slept in the back of his vehicle in the park parking lot along Southeast Powell Boulevard. The blue SUV was filled with his personal belongings including a backpack, and clothes and food, explained Porter. He also had a walker, used for rehabilitation after suffering serious injuries when he tried to take his own life in August 2017.
Porter fell on hard times after moving from Texas to Oregon. He told KGW he had financial problems, depression and had separated from his wife.
"We were married for 38 years and she more or less turned on me,” explained Porter. “She said she loved me one minute and next minute said she hated me. This went on for weeks and weeks.”
KGW was unsuccessful in trying to reach a woman listed on public records as Porter’s wife.
Porter didn’t explain what happened during the May 25 incident or share a motive. Court records indicate he didn’t know any of the victims.
During the phone interview with KGW, Porter made several delusional statements related to President Trump, Taylor Swift and social media.
On Tuesday, a Multnomah County judge ordered Porter to be sent to the Oregon State Hospital for examination to help determine if he’s able to aid and assist his defense lawyers.