In the heart of Northeast Portland, a vibrant community was shattered on Thursday, August 7, 2025, when a devastating crash claimed the life of DaRon V. Craig, a 49-year-old devoted father of four. The incident, unfolding just before noon in the 5900 block of Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, has left a family grieving, a son traumatized, and a city searching for answers.
It was an ordinary day for DaRon Craig and his 12-year-old son, DJ, as they walked together along the east sidewalk near NE Jarrett Street, having just picked up lunch from a nearby Subway. Laughter filled the air as they chatted, their arms nearly brushing in a moment of father-son closeness. But in an instant, their world was torn apart. A silver Ford Escape, speeding northbound, veered off the road and onto the sidewalk with catastrophic force. The vehicle struck DaRon and another pedestrian, leaving a trail of destruction that would ripple through their lives and beyond.
DaRon, a man described by his ex-wife, Angeline McKinney-Craig, as a loving and ever-present father, was pronounced dead at the scene. The second pedestrian, whose identity remains undisclosed, was rushed to a nearby hospital with injuries so severe that they were initially feared fatal. By Friday, authorities provided a glimmer of hope, noting that the pedestrian’s condition had stabilized, though their injuries remained “extremely serious.”
The driver of the Ford Escape, a man with two prosthetic legs, was also hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Portland Police Bureau (PPB) investigators have clarified that the vehicle was not specially modified for a handicapped driver, save for a platform attached to the trailer hitch. While the driver’s identity has not been released, police have stated there is no evidence to suggest the crash was intentional. Yet, the sequence of events paints a harrowing picture: after striking the pedestrians, the Ford Escape careened across the median, colliding head-on with two other vehicles in a chain reaction of chaos. Another driver, Demarco Owns, was trapped in his Buick for nearly 20 minutes, his vehicle totaled, before firefighters freed him. Owns, shaken but alive, later visited DaRon’s memorial to leave flowers, his heart heavy with the weight of the tragedy.
Angeline McKinney-Craig’s voice trembles as she recounts the gut-wrenching moment she learned of the crash. Having seen DaRon that morning when he picked up their children for a meal, she was driving back home when she stumbled upon the chaotic scene on MLK Boulevard. Initially unaware of her ex-husband’s involvement, she received a call that her son was with someone at the crash site. Racing toward the commotion, her worst fears materialized—not her son, but DaRon, lay lifeless on the sidewalk. “I just knew he was gone,” she said, describing how she held his hand, desperately checking for a pulse as first responders worked to save him.
For DJ, the trauma is unimaginable. Walking side by side with his father, he turned for a moment, only to find DaRon “just gone” in the blink of an eye. The boy, now grappling with guilt and grief, told his mother they had been laughing together just seconds before the tragedy. Angeline has been comforting her son, reassuring him that the accident was not his fault, a burden no child should bear.
DaRon Craig was more than a victim of a tragic accident—he was a pillar of love and dedication to his four children. Angeline remembers him as a father who always put his kids first, cooking their favorite meals, playing at the park, and riding bikes together. “He was always up for doing what they wanted to do,” she shared, her words painting a portrait of a man whose warmth and presence left an indelible mark on those who knew him.
The crash, one of three related incidents reported near the Safeway at NE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Ainsworth Street, has raised questions about safety and accountability. Security footage captured the Ford Escape hurtling down the street, a chilling testament to the speed and force of the collision. While no arrests or citations have been issued, the Portland Police Traffic Investigations Unit is meticulously piecing together the events. The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office has taken the unusual step of responding to the scene, underscoring the gravity of the incident. The driver’s prosthetic limbs have been noted, but whether they contributed to the crash remains under investigation.
As the community mourns, Angeline is channeling her grief into action, raising funds for DaRon’s funeral to honor the man who meant so much to so many. She wants him remembered not for the tragedy that took him but for the love he gave—especially to his children. For those who wish to help, or who may have witnessed the crash, the Portland Police Bureau urges anyone with information to reach out at [email protected], referencing case number 25-212760.
In Northeast Portland, where the hum of daily life continues, a memorial grows at the site of the crash, adorned with flowers and tributes to a man whose light was extinguished too soon. DaRon V. Craig’s legacy lives on in the hearts of his children, his family, and a community forever changed by his loss.
