PORTLAND, OR, (April 6, 2026) – Authorities have identified a Beavercreek man as one of four victims in a fatal crash involving a vehicle that entered the Willamette River early Sunday.
According to the Portland Police Bureau, the incident began shortly after 2 a.m. when an officer observed a vehicle running red lights and traveling the wrong way. The driver fled from an attempted traffic stop and continued through Waterfront Park before the vehicle plunged into the river.
One occupant was rescued with injuries not considered life-threatening, while two others were recovered from the water shortly after the vehicle submerged. Officials later confirmed 20-year-old Jakob Esperum as the fourth occupant.
Police stated that the officer did not engage in a pursuit. Recovery efforts for the submerged vehicle are ongoing with assistance from a specialized contractor.
