70% of pedestrians killed in Portland traffic incidents last year were homeless, report finds
Portland had more traffic deaths in 2021 than any year since 1990, according to the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s Vision Zero Traffic Crash Report released Wednesday.
In 2021, 63 people died in traffic crashes across the city. That’s up from 54 the year prior and well above the average of 46 recorded between 2017-2020.
The report notes a “dramatic increase” in the number of pedestrians killed on Portland’s streets. Pedestrians accounted for 27 traffic deaths, up from 18 the year before, and 70% of pedestrians killed last year were homeless, a trend the report calls an “alarming pattern.”