S.E. Powell Boulevard was closed near the Ross Island Bridge, in the late evening of August 5th, as police investigated a deadly motorcycle crash.

For two friends, out for a late-night motorcycle ride, the evening of Tuesday, August 5th, ended tragically when one of them died in a crash on S.E. Powell Boulevard, near the east end of the Ross Island Bridge.

Arriving officers found the rider down at S.E. 7th Avenue, and bystanders performing CPR on the crash victim.

“Medical personnel were unable to save 27-year-old Edward Paul Reis of South Carolina,” said Portland Police spokesman Sgt. Pete Simpson. “Reis died at the scene.”

The PPB Traffic Division’s Major Crash Team investigators learned that Reis and his friend had been riding motorcycles westbound on S.E. Powell Boulevard when Reis suddenly applied his brakes, evidently to make an unannounced U-turn to avoid the bridge and return eastbound on Powell.

“Reis’ friend was unable to stop in time and rear-ended him, which sent Reis off of his motorcycle into oncoming traffic, where he was struck and killed by a 2001 Jeep Wrangler.

“The driver of the Wrangler remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators,” continued Simpson. “Reis’ riding companion and friend, 32-year-old Jeremiah Lee Kloss, also remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. Neither displayed any signs of impairment.”

The case remains under investigation and, upon completion, will be forwarded to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office for review.