In the Black Bears Forest Park
right now at 11, one bear,
multiple sightings.
I put my arms out and wide,
I said. Bear get away here
for one jogger who had a too cle
encounter and why Experts say ty
can't be sure it's just the one
plus dream car nightmare.
How one man's decision to rent t
his car ended up in the wrong h.
But first purpose of the
meteor is to better than one of their lives
and it was taken away
gone in an instant. The family
of those killed in a semi truck
crash make a plea for justice.
And we begin tonight in Marion County,
where families are in shock over
that unimaginable loss after a h
on I-5 involving 2 semis in a vn
claimed the lives of seven peop.
Thanks for joining us. I'm David Molko.
And I'm Brittany Volkers.
The man who troopers say hit
their passenger van and killed
them was in court on Friday.
He faces seven counts of manslaughter,
along with driving under
the influence just.
Absolutely tragic.
Let's bring in Alma McCarty,
who's been following these
developments for us. Alma
Brittany David, the judge set no
bail for 52 year old Lincoln Sm,
the California truck driver.
In court documents read by the
prosecution this afternoon,
witnesses told OSP he'd been
swerving on the road before he
allegedly plowed into the occupd
van parked on the shoulder.
I have a year and a half. In
the morning he woke up,
lives and plans changed.
In an instant, there
is no power that will be able
to give me back my wife.
We had plans together as a family. The
husband of one of the seven peoe
killed on I-5 near the Santiam r
rest area made an emotional plea
to a Marion County judge Friday.
I hope that there is a fair legal process.
Troopers say there were eleven
people inside a passenger van
parked lawfully on the side of
the Interstate Thursday afterno.
Another semi was parked right nearby.
Then authorities say a tractor trailer
driven by Lincoln Smith veered f
the roadway and slammed into the van.
Six died at the scene,
a 7th person on the way to the hospital.
Three other people in that
van were badly injured.
Hard working immigrants that wee
in this vehicle, seven
of their lives were taken
away. The purpose
of the meteor is to better than
one of their lives and it was taken away
in court. Prosecutors explained
to the judge what witnesses say
they saw how Smith was allegedly
weaving across the highway.
And how they did not see his bre
lights Before this tragic impac,
defendant appeared dizzy,
have constricted pupils,
was unable to focus or
answer basic questions. The
state, saying Smith refused fied
sobriety tests and was unable
to focus or answer questions,
then admitted to using speed.
The day before, officials said
they found meth in his pocket
and canisters used for inhalant.
Around the truck,
Smith now facing 7 counts of manslaughter
as well as DUII and reckless driving.
As in and out of court,
the victims loved ones grapple
with the grief.
It's clear that there are family members
of seven people that my heart goes out to.
Again, no bail tonight for Smit.
He remains behind bars in Marion County.
Neither he nor his public defenr
really spoke in court today.
He's due back in court May 30th.
As far as we know, three more victims
of that crash remain in the hospital.
Absolutely devastating for so many families.
Thank you, Alma. Let's get you caught
up on tonight's other headlinesw
beginning in Kelso where policee
investigating the deaths of three people.
Authorities say they got a call around noon
related to domestic violence involving a gun.
When they arrived at the
home on North 7th Ave.
all three were dead.
We are working out to find the ages of the
victims and exactly what happened here.
Kelso police say there is no
threat to the community and they
aren't looking for any suspects.
Washington County Sheriff's need
your help finding the person
involved in a shooting in Tigar.
This happened after three in the morning
Thursday in the Metzger neighborhood.
Officers found a 24 year old
hurt near Southwest Hall Blvd.
And Locust St.
He was sent to the hospital
in critical condition.
The Sheriff's Department
says the suspect ran off
and two Honduran nationals have
been indicted in federal court r
allegedly transporting thousands
of counterfeit fentanyl pills.
According to US Attorney's Offi.
Back in February, investigators tracked
a Courier vehicle to a home in Gresham.
Soon after, they searched that e
and found 150,000 pills inside,
along with powdered fentanyl.
They later arrested 27 year
old Kevin Martinez Avila and 29
year old Allen Moya Vargas.
Both have pleaded not guilty.
If convicted,
they face life in prison with
a minimum sentence of 10 years.
We may be one step closer
tonight in learning what sparked
a massive fire at the May
Apartments in downtown Portland.
The more than 100 year old builg
went up in flames Tuesday after.
Residents got out safely but lot
everything inside and into our
newsroom just about 45 minutes .
Portland Fire says that they're hoping to
get a fire investigator inside by Tuesday.
It comes after investigators flw
drones today in and around the charred,
shelled out building in hopes
of pinpointing A cause.
You see, right now the area
remains fenced off.
It's unsafe since it continues to crumble.
Jeff Pritcher of the Scappoose e
District plot piloted the drone today.
He says it'll assist in creating both two
and three-dimensional maps of the scene.
Then we're going to do some very
specific photos to help enhancee
of the areas of interest that the fire
investigators have like whether it be.
Negligence on the way the buildg
was ran or whether it be arson
like we just we just want to kid
of put this thing to rest.
The Red Cross is helping displad
residents setting up a shelter n
the University of Portland camp.
There are several gofundmes
right now for the fire victims.
We have links up on kgw.com.
Well, new at 11, we're looking
into multiple bear sightings in
and around Portland's Forest Pa,
including this one recorded on video,
with two different joggers tellg
us about their close calls.
Now the latest encounter Thursdy
evening on the Leaf Erickson Trl
and Oregon wildlife officials tl
us while it is not unheard of,
it's certainly unusual,
bro. BlackBerry Forest Park
sauntering across 53rd Drive.
Sometime last week, amidst the
ferns and fir trees. That's cra.
I can't even believe this.
Oh my God. I'm up here all
the time with the dogs.
That was my bear.
I recognized him.
Yeah, that was his gate.
That was his size.
Kristen Shaw says she was trail running
Thursday evening this week whene
nearly ran into the exact same .
I stopped, and I stood a bit wi,
and he considered me.
I considered him, but he didn't charge.
So then I calmed down,
and State Fish and Wildlife officials
say they've had at least four rt
black bear sightings in the are,
including along Skyline outside the park.
If
it's the same bear, which it probably is,
but it's gotten into some unsecured garbage,
it's gotten into some beehives,
I put my arms out and wide, I s.
Bear get away.
Exactly what you're supposed to.
Say the experts.
Signs like this are now going
up reminding folks not to run,
to avoid eye contact,
to appear large as shotted
and make a lot of noise.
And he heard me and he didn't wt
anything to do with the situation either.
I think we reacted similarly toh
other and he took off at a nice pace.
I can't even believe this
as long as you give them a wide berth and.
It's not a you know, a mother with Cubs,
they they usually take off.
They want to get away from you.
This one doesn't seem to be a mom but
we don't really know exactly
how many bears there are
in the park. That is you alwayse
to respect nature and and thesee
wild animals because this they y
bro black bear in Forest Park is most
unusual. I can't even believe t.
So you heard that not even in the park,
but getting into people's
garbage in their beehives.
close your garbage,
take down your bird feeders.
If you live near the park,
they're an estimated 25 to 30,00
black bears across the state.
The officials say there have only been five
reported sightings in the city of Portland,
Forest Park included,
in the last three years.
Four of those five, Britney,
were just this month.
Wow. I mean, it is pretty wild.
You know, I carry bear spray when I'm
going backpacking, things like that. But
not in Forest Park.
No, you don't. Think about it.
So you could get an air horn, a bear bell.
I mean, it's all preventative, right?
Hiking in groups, keeping.
Dog on a leash? Yeah.
Talking to each other.
Really. The whole idea here,
You know this from hiking
in the back country.
You don't want to startle the b.
You don't want them to see
you or your pets as prey.
Exactly.
You know, sometimes when I'm out backpacking,
we sing very loudly in a group, You know,
just to make the time pass.
Scare the bears
away. Scare the bears away.