A Camas man was killed Friday night in Portland when he was walking in the road and was struck by a speeding motorcyclist.
Portland police identified the man as 28-year-old Zachary David Crist.
Crist worked as a substitute carrier for The Columbian starting in 2019. A manager at the newspaper described Crist as a kind, happy, intelligent and caring person who wanted to help people.
Crist came to The Columbian shortly after the death of his mother, Linda Burdick, according to the manager. Linda Burdick, 49, was killed by her husband Robert W. Burdick on June 18, 2019, at their Washougal apartment. Robert Burdick was sentenced to 25 years in prison in February.
The motorcyclist, Dylan M. Foord, 27, of Newberg, Ore., was also killed in the crash, according to the Portland Police Bureau.
“Extreme speed” was believed to be a contributing factor in the double fatal crash in the St. Johns neighborhood, police said.
Major Crash Team investigators determined that the motorcyclist was speeding west on North Lombard Street when he “struck a pedestrian in the roadway near the 6100 block of the road. Police did not say whether Crist was in a crosswalk.
“The pedestrian was wearing all dark clothing, and the area, while lit by street lamps, has dark spots that make nighttime visibility difficult,” the police bureau said.
The impact killed Crist; Foord died at the scene, police said.
Responding officers noted there were numerous cars and motorcycles leaving the area after the crash, and there appeared to be an illegal racing event happening in the area.
“These dangerous events have been an ongoing concern, and often feature cars doing stunts and displays of speed with spectators very close by,” police said.
Investigators believe there are additional witnesses to the crash and the events leading up to it, and that there may be video as well. Anyone with additional information is asked to reach out to primary traffic investigator Officer Garrett Dow at 503-823-5070 or Garrett.Dow@portlandoregon.gov.
