DJ Buckner survives deadly Portland car accident, police say
The vehicle plunged into the Willamette River after fleeing an attempted traffic stop
DJ Buckner, 17, of Beavercreek, survived a fatal car accident on Southwest Harvey Milk Street in downtown Portland, Oregon, on April 6, according to the Portland Police Bureau.
The crash occurred as a fleeing white Toyota Corolla sped the wrong way down one-way streets. The sedan crossed Southwest Naito Parkway, drove through Tom McCall Waterfront Park, and crashed through a barrier before plunging into the Willamette River.
Buckner awoke at the bottom of the river after the crash and swam to the surface, his mother reported.
Three other young men in the vehicle, including the 19-year-old driver and two passengers, ages 17 and 20, died in the wreck. Police said the driver was fleeing an attempted traffic stop for reckless driving and running red lights just before 2 a.m.
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office divers recovered the final victim's body on Sunday. The police bureau is still working to pull the submerged sedan from the river bottom.
How will the Portland police pursuit policy affect the investigation?
While the exact sequence of events leading to the river crash remains under review, authorities are examining the attempted traffic stop that preceded the plunge. National Legal Analyst Stefano Formica, Of Bond Legal, noted that "In motor vehicle accidents involving police pursuits, investigators must carefully evaluate whether the pursuing officers adhered to departmental chase protocols and if the pursuit itself created an unreasonable danger to the public and passengers."
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 400 people are killed annually in crashes related to police pursuits, with passengers and bystanders making up much of the victims.
What happens next for the surviving passenger and grieving families?
The trauma of surviving a submerged vehicle crash leaves lasting physical and emotional scars on young victims. National Legal Analyst Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal, noted that "When passengers are injured in car accidents caused by a reckless driver, they often face extensive medical recovery and psychological trauma, making it essential to secure independent legal guidance to navigate complex liability claims against the at-fault party's estate."
Families and survivors must often deal with multiple insurance carriers and municipal liability investigations simultaneously in the weeks following a major collision.
Oregon personal injury and liability laws
Under Oregon's personal injury laws (O.R.S. § 31.600), passengers injured due to a driver's negligence have the right to pursue compensation through the at-fault party's insurance, even if the driver is deceased. The state follows a modified comparative negligence system, though innocent passengers typically bear no fault in fleeing incidents. National Legal Analyst Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal, noted that "Personal injury claims allow survivors of severe car accidents to seek recovery for immediate hospital bills, ongoing psychological counseling, and the profound pain and suffering associated with traumatic events."
Victims have two years from the date of the injury to file a civil lawsuit under the Oregon statute of limitations. In cases involving potential municipal liability, such as a police pursuit, a formal tort claim notice must typically be filed with the government agency within 180 days of the crash to preserve the right to sue.