Driver dead after driving car into Columbia River

Ryan Dickinson

PORTLAND, OR – On January 24, 2021, at 7:32 a.m., officers from the North Precinct responded to the scene of a crash at about the 7000 block of North Marine Drive. The crash involved a single car with a single occupant, which left the roadway to the north and ended up in the Columbia River.

A passerby saw the tire marks in the grass and headlights in the water and called 911. There are no known witnesses to the crash itself. Fire crews responded and were able to remove the driver from the car and confirm no one else was in the car. The driver was transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The Major Crash Team (MCT) was consulted and responded to investigate.

North Precinct officers went to the registered owner’s address to confirm if anyone else could have been in the car. Officers were able to contact the driver’s wife and confirm he was alone. The wife was taken to the hospital by patrol officers.

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The driver has been identified as 48 year-old Eddie Robert Larson of Portland.


It was determined Mr. Larson was on his way to work from home when his vehicle left the roadway and veered down the hill, across the bike path, and off the embankment into the Columbia River.


Marine Dr. was closed for a few hours, and crews remained on scene for quite some time to get the vehicle from the river.

Details of the reason for the crash are still being investigated. This is the 7th MCT activation and 4th National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reportable fatal for 2021 in the City of Portland.

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