A Portland man has been arrested and charged with manslaughter after a fatal crash involving an e-scooter and a semi truck claimed the life of his passenger.

The collision occurred around 3:00 a.m. on August 17th at the intersection of Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Holladay Street in Northeast Portland, Oregon. According to Oregon Live, 21-year-old Jayden Calkins was operating an e-scooter when he crashed into a passing tractor-trailer. Riding on the back of the scooter was 24-year-old Gerardo Ortiz Henriquez, who was killed in the impact.

Initial Investigation and Arrest

Calkins was seriously injured in the crash but survived. The driver of the semi truck was initially considered a suspect; however, after fully cooperating with the investigation, authorities concluded that “his actions are not believed to be the cause of the crash.”

More than a month after the incident, on Wednesday, September 17th, Calkins turned himself in to police. Prosecutors allege that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision.

An indictment has charged Calkins with:

• Second-degree manslaughter

• Driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII)

• Reckless driving

Community Impact

The case has drawn attention to the dangers of impaired operation of e-scooters, particularly in areas with mixed traffic involving larger commercial vehicles. The late-night timing of the crash and the presence of a passenger further compounded the risks.

Authorities continue to remind the public that e-scooters are not exempt from DUI laws and should be operated responsibly, especially on heavily trafficked roads.

According to Fox 12 Oregon