Bicyclist Identified in Fatal Crash on St. John's Bridge

A bicyclist was struck and killed by a car on the St. John's Bridge Saturday morning. The bridge was closed for several hours. The driver was arrested and charged with criminally negligent homicide.

The bicyclist has been identified as 55-year-old Mitchell Todd York of Northeast Portland. Police say he was a dedicated bicycle rider who logged more than 500 miles per week.

It happened just before 11:30 Saturday morning..

42-year-old Joel Aaron Schrantz of North Portland was booked into the Multnomah County Jail on a charge of Criminally Negligent Homicide. He'll be arraigned on Monday.

The driver involved in today's fatal crash on the St. Johns Bridge was arrested after a crash investigation by Traffic Division officers. 42-year-old Joel Aaron Schrantz of North Portland was booked into the Multnomah County Jail on a charge of Criminally Negligent Homicide. He'll be arraigned on Monday. The bicycle rider has been tentatively identified as a man in his 50s. Family has not yet been notified so the deceased's name is being withheld at this time.

Investigators learned that Schrantz was driving his 1995 Toyota 4Runner northbound and was stopped at a red light on Northwest Bridge Avenue at the entrance to the St. Johns Bridge. When the light turned green, Schrantz accelerated into the curve and lost control of the vehicle as it began to fishtail as he turned onto the bridge.

Schrantz failed to maintain control of his vehicle as it slid into the westbound lanes of the bridge, where he collided with the bicycle rider who was riding westbound across the bridge. The rider was knocked from his bicycle and came to rest underneath the front of an unrelated vehicle being driven in the other direction.

Investigators examined Schrantz' vehicle and noted that the rear tires were bald and had no traction. Investigators learned that Schrantz was aware of the bad condition of his tires and other vehicle equipment issues making the 4Runner unsafe to drive

The identity of the bicyclist - beyond that the bicyclist was a man in his 50s - has not been released.

This was the 35th traffic fatality of the year in Portland.

Image via ShutterStock