An 11-year-old child was tragically killed in a crash that occurred in the Mill Park neighborhood of Southeast Portland over the weekend. The Portland Police Bureau has charged a driver with manslaughter in connection with the incident.
According to the Portland Police Bureau, the victim, Ryan Ambrose of Portland, was a passenger in one of the vehicles involved in the crash. The vehicle was being driven by a family member. The incident took place shortly after 10:15 p.m. on Saturday at the intersection of Southeast 102nd Avenue and Southeast Washington Street. Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered two crashed vehicles, one of which had overturned.
The driver of one of the vehicles, identified as Duprie Smith, had sustained a non-fatal gunshot wound and was taken to the hospital for medical treatment. After being released from the hospital, Smith was arrested and booked into Multnomah County jail. He now faces charges of first-degree manslaughter, driving under the influence of intoxicants, and reckless driving.
Ryan Ambrose sustained critical, life-threatening injuries in the crash, and despite efforts by a witness who performed CPR at the scene, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Additional information provided in court documents and during Duprie Smith’s arraignment shed light on the events leading up to the crash. Smith’s attorney claimed that he had been attending his brother’s funeral when an unidentified individual began shooting into the crowd, hitting Smith three times. Allegedly, when an ambulance did not arrive promptly, Smith got into his car, believing he was bleeding out.
According to a probable cause affidavit from the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office, Smith’s vehicle’s dash cam recorded his erratic behavior moments before the crash. The footage reportedly shows Smith driving at excessive speeds, making statements such as where is the hospital and I am going to die. He repeatedly ran red lights, weaved through traffic, and collided with the sedan carrying Ryan Ambrose as it crossed the intersection.
The affidavit further states that data extracted from Smith’s vehicle indicated that he was traveling at 86 mph just three seconds before impact. Only one second prior to the crash, he abruptly applied the brakes, reducing his speed to 72 mph. The speed limit in the area was 30 mph. The impact was so forceful that Smith’s vehicle flipped over and traveled an entire city block before coming to a stop.
Although Smith was ejected from his vehicle as a result of the collision, the affidavit notes that he appeared to be relatively unharmed, aside from the gunshot wounds to his arm and leg. After receiving medical treatment, he was discharged from the hospital the following day.
According to the affidavit, Smith was tested at the hospital and had a blood alcohol content of 0.116, exceeding the legal limit.
During Monday’s arraignment, Smith was conditionally released under high-risk DUII intensive supervision. The court imposed several restrictions, including a prohibition on driving and consuming alcohol. Smith will also be required to undergo drug and alcohol treatment.
Portland police have reported that this incident marks the 34th crash-related fatality in the city this year, with six occurring in the past 16 days.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting or crash to contact them via email at crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, referencing case number 23-179745.
This tragedy highlights the devastating consequences of impaired driving and the importance of following traffic laws to ensure the safety of all road users. The loss of a young life serves as a somber reminder of the need for responsible behavior behind the wheel.
