Friends and family of Hudson's Bay High School student Monserrat Hernandez-Garcia brought items to make a memorial to her in downtown Portland, near the spot she was killed by a bus on Sunday, June 8. afternoon. Hernandez-Garcia was to graduate with her class on Wednesday, June 11.
Three days before she was supposed to graduate high school, an 18-year-old Vancouver woman was killed after being struck by a bus in downtown Portland.
Monserrat Hernandez-Garcia was identified Monday as the pedestrian killed in the collision Sunday afternoon. She was a senior at Hudson’s Bay High School, which is celebrating graduation Wednesday.
Hernandez-Garcia was struck by an Amtrak charter bus at the intersection of Northwest Sixth Avenue and Northwest Glisan Street, according to the Portland Police Bureau. The preliminary information showed the bus was traveling west on Glisan Street and turned north onto Sixth Avenue, striking Hernandez-Garcia. The intersection is two blocks from Portland Union Station, the Amtrak train and bus station.
Police say the driver of the bus, Charles Atarashi, 68, of Portland, was not impaired and has cooperated with investigators. No citations or charges have been issued in the case, though it remains under investigation, police said.
Portland police Sgt. Pete Simpson said that details, including whether Hernandez-Garcia was in a crosswalk, are part of the investigation.
Grief counselors are at Hudson’s Bay High School this week to talk with students and staff, said Amanda Richter, a spokeswoman for Vancouver Public Schools.
“This is a very sad loss for Hudson’s Bay High School,” the school’s principal, Val Seeley, said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to her family and friends, and all who knew Monserrat. The Hudson’s Bay school community will miss her.”
School administrators said they are working with Hernandez-Garcia’s family to appropriately honor her. The family has requested privacy from the press.
Friends of Hernandez-Garcia’s said she worked at Bridgeport Brewing Company in Portland and planned to go to Portland Community College after graduation.
“She was really friendly, always happy,” said Alexus Maxie, 16, who knew Hernandez-Garcia from school. “It sucks that stuff like this has to happen to good people.”
On Monday, Leotie Yelloweyes, 18, of Vancouver visited the spot where Hernandez-Garcia was hit, pausing at a tree adorned with flowers, candles and graduation balloons.
Yelloweyes, a student at Union High School, attended Hudson’s Bay last year with Hernandez-Garcia. She said she plans to attach a picture of Hernandez-Garcia atop her graduation cap.
“She was so excited for her graduation day,” she said. “Her life had just started.”
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