UPDATE: Two Deceased After Vehicle Crashes into River, Additional Person Presumed Deceased

Portland police say the third person who died in a single-vehicle crash into the Willamette River on April 6 has been identified as Jakob Esperum, 20, of Beavercreek, Oregon. His family has been notified, according to the Portland Police Bureau.

Police said the crash happened just after 2 a.m. on Monday, April 6, 2026, after an officer saw a vehicle traveling the wrong way at a high rate of speed and running red lights in downtown Portland. The officer tried to stop the vehicle near Southwest 3rd Avenue and Harvey Milk Street, but police said it fled east on Southwest Harvey Milk Street, crossed Southwest Naito Parkway, entered Waterfront Park, and went into the river.

Investigators said one occupant was rescued from the water by Portland Fire & Rescue and suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office dive team recovered the remains of two people, and police said one person remained unaccounted for and was presumed deceased at the time of the earlier update. Police later said the Medical Examiner identified that missing occupant as Esperum.

The bureau said its Traffic Division is still working to recover the vehicle and is arranging a contractor with the needed equipment and experience. Police said the investigation remains open and more information will be released when appropriate.

For families and witnesses in a fatal crash, records from police, the Medical Examiner, and first responders often become central to the next steps. In a case like this, those records can affect insurance claims, wrongful death questions, and the timeline for any civil review.

Sources

1. UPDATE: Two Deceased After Vehicle Crashes into River, Additional Person Presumed Deceased (opens in a new tab) - Portland Police Bureau, 2026-04-06