Bicycle

Date: September 15, 2009
Location: St. Johns Road and NE 41st St., Vancouver
Names: Gordon Patterson, Antonio Eugene Cellestine

A memorial was held Wednesday, September 23, at Hudson’s Bay High School in Vancouver, Washington, for a popular teacher who was killed in a hit-and-run. The tragic accident took place at 4 PM on September 15, 2009, in the 4100 block of St. Johns Road in Vancouver. Gordon Patterson, 50, was on his bicycle when he was struck. The 18-year-old driver, who fled the scene, was taken into police custody later that day. He was held at Clark County Jail on felony hit-and-run charges.

When police arrived at the scene, a witness told them he saw a car speeding away from the accident site. The vehicle raced down a one-way road in the wrong direction, with the driver shifting in his seat to see out of his damaged windshield. The witness, who identified the car as possibly a Dodge Intrepid and described the driver, watched the car swerve from lane to lane before disappearing onto 44th Street. A police search led to a Plymouth Breeze with front end and windshield damage, parked in the 2400 block of NE 45th Street.

Cellestine, who has a long criminal record, had told an acquaintance that he sold the car earlier that day. But after questioning, Cellestine was arrested for the hit-and-run. He made his first court appearance the following morning.

Patterson was a popular technology teacher at the high school, known for his smile and the white lab coat he seemed to perennially wear. A former principal at Hudson’s Bay recalled, “He always looked at bringing out the best in kids.” Patterson had been at Hudson’s Bay for 14 years.

Mourners have been filling the site of the crash with flowers, and a candlelight vigil had been planned for 8 PM on Thursday, September 17, at the school.

This hit-and-run is both a crime and a tragedy, and we offer our sincere condolences, both to Patterson’s family and to the entire community trying to heal. Vancouver police are continuing to investigate, reportedly considering distracted driving as a possible factor. In addition, neighbors say the accident site is considered a dangerous stretch of road.

Hit-and-runs are a serious violation of Oregon Vehicle Code 811.705. The hit-and-run driver must be held civilly and criminally responsible for his or her actions. In a case like this, the Patterson family may wish to contact a reputable personal injury attorney with experience in hit-and-run crashes who will fight for the justice and compensation that they deserve. At Shulman DuBois, we believe that what happened to Gordon Patterson is simply unacceptable; we are committed to making sure that hit-and-run drivers are held accountable for their actions and that both victims and families receive the compensation they deserve.

Shulman DuBois LLC is located in Portland, Oregon, and serves clients in all Oregon cities and counties, including: Portland, Beaverton, Multnomah County, Hillsboro, Gresham, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Tualatin, Troutdale, Sellwood, Corvallis, Salem, Eugene, and Albany.

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Date: May 4, 2009
Location: Intersection of NE 21st and NE Columbia
Names: Brandon Dahren
Type: Automobile vs Bicycle – Hit and Run
Outcome: Serious Injuries

Brandon Dahren was the victim of a hit and run accident while riding his bicycle in northeast Portland.  He was riding his bike through the intersection of Northeast 21st St and Columbia Boulevard when an SUV slammed into his front wheel.  Dahren was placed in intensive care at Legacy Emanuel Hospital with a broken nose and missing teeth after his handlebars spun around and he struck the passenger’s side mirror.  He managed to stumble the half-block to his work, where they called for an ambulance.

The worst part of the accident is that the driver of the SUV- a green or teal 90’s Ford Explorer- never stopped or asked if Dahren was alright.  Fortunately, Brandon Dahren is expected to make a full recovery. The Portland police are still searching for the driver of the vehicle.

Portland intersections can be a dangerous place for bicyclists despite their heavy volume.  There were 700 accidents involving bicycles from 2003-2006, and there were two fatalities in October alone.

Our hearts go out to Mr. Dahren and his family.  We can only imagine how awful it is to know that someone caused an injury like this and then did not even have the human decency to stick around and call for help, let alone take responsibility for his actions.

Right now Brandon Dahren’s focus needs to be on healing.  We  hope that the driver is identified, and made to feel the effects of the law.

Branden Dahren and his family should also know, though, that if the the driver is never found, they still have legal options.  The best Portland personal injury attorneys will know how to use Uninsured Motorist Coverage to compensate Mr. Dahren for his injuries.

Date: January 21, 2009
Location: Southeast 136th Avenue and Seventh Street, Vancouver, WA
Type:  Car vs. bicycle
Outcome: Severe brain injury | TBI
Names: Kris Miles, Andrea Dickinson

The Columbian recently published a story about the long path towards recovery for 14-year-old Kris Miles of Vancouver, WA, who was hit by an SUV while riding his bicycle in mid-January. 28-year-old Andrea Dickinson, who was driving the SUV, failed to see Kris in the crosswalk. She struck him at a speed of somewhere between 13 and 30 m.p.h, causing Kris and his bike to fall under the SUV and drag along the road.

The collision left Kris with severe head trauma that required major brain surgery and sixteen weeks of hospitalization at Legacy Emanuel. Though he is home now, Kris’ struggles are far from over: responsive to his family only through grunts, blinks, and finger gestures, Kris cannot eat, bathe, or walk by himself.

Please keep Kris in your thoughts and prayers. Our hearts go out to all of his loved ones, and especially the Miles family, who remain admirably strong in the face of crisis. Kris’ father, Ken Miles, stopped working full time so that he could devote more time to taking care of Kris. As parents ourselves, we can only imagine the incredible pain and shock that Ken and his wife, Shannon, must be going through. We also hope that Kris is getting the very best medical care and treatment for his traumatic brain injury — an all too common outcome of automobile trauma.

As lawyers and as parents, these kinds of stories are hard to read. They remind us how vitally important it is to fight for justice, but simultaneously highlight how deeply inadequate that justice can be.  For his injuries, pain, and dramatically impacted ability to function in daily life, Kris and his family absolutely deserve to be compensated.  Yet no amount of money could possibly make up for what Kris and his family have had to experience. It is unclear whether or not the Miles family has contacted an attorney at this point, but if so, we wish them the best possible outcome while acknowledging that it will never be enough.

Shulman DuBois LLC represents victims with injuries resulting from accidents. Our clients deserve representation with our experience, sensitivity and tenacity. Should an unfortunate episode find you or someone you know in need of representation as a result of an accident related injury, the best thing you can do for yourself is to get educated by reading our Frequently Asked Questions, exploring our Library, or ordering your free copy of 7 Common Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Oregon Accident Case.