Two people are dead, and one person is being treated at a Portland hospital after crashing into the Willamette River downtown early Monday morning.

According to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, dive team deputies recovered two bodies Monday afternoon.

It’s unclear if there were more occupants inside the car.

Portland police said early Monday morning, officers saw a car speeding downtown in the wrong direction at about 2 a.m. Officers turned on their overhead lights to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver sped away.

Police said the car traveled eastbound on Southwest Harvey Milk Street across Naito Parkway and through Waterfront Park before crashing through a barrier and into the Willamette River.

Portland Fire & Rescue crews were able to rescue one person early Monday morning by using a cinch buoy.

That person was taken to a nearby hospital.

Rick Graves, a spokesperson with PF&R, said crews scanned the river looking for other potential occupants, but saw none.

Rescue teams were able to pinpoint a location where the car may have been, using sonar scanning tools, he said.

According to the sheriff’s office, search efforts for the day had stopped by 2 p.m. Deputies will meet Tuesday to reassess river conditions to decide whether or not they’re able to search again.

The crash remains under investigation.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/04/06/2-found-dead-in-willamette-river-after-high-speed-crash/