PORTLAND -- A man was taken into custody after police said he hit a motorcyclist in Northeast Portland Monday night and then fled the scene.
Investigators said Edy Reynoso-Ramirez, 32, was driving erratically and speeding eastbound along NE Marine Drive when he crossed the center line and crashed head-on into an oncoming motorcycle near the 138th Avenue intersection. (Ramirez pictured in police mug shot at right.)
The driver fled on foot but police said they found him a short time later and arrested him around 8 p.m.
The injured motorcyclist, later identified as John Zupan, 66, of Vancouver, was taken to Legacy Emanuel Hospital with critical injuries. He is the founder of Portland's Zupan's Markets.
NE Marine Drive was closed between 138th and 148th Avenues as police investigated. They said both vehicles left the roadway after the crash, and Ramirez' Honda Civic ended up at the bottom of a steep embankment. The motorcycle was a 2009 BMW.
John started out as a teenager at Sheridan Fruit Market. This blogger only wishes him a complete recovery. John Zupan is a class act.
John built a great company. I worked on Macadam many years ago and thought the world of him and his family. Horrible news.
Posted by: Ken Radson | August 30, 2011 at 09:14 PM
What this doesn't say is that the perp was drunk and an illegal alien. And I do mean ILLEGAL.
Posted by: JoelinPDX | August 30, 2011 at 09:46 PM
Please let it be known, the offending driver is being held on an INS hold as an Illegal Alien and this type of needless event is all to common around Oregon, has been for many years and just now is impacting the Portland area.
Think of all the ruined lives and for what?
Posted by: Allen | August 30, 2011 at 09:47 PM
John Z is really one of the good ones and I pray for a full & complete recovery. He's a real class act and thats truly a rarity these days.
Damned good racecar driver, too,....:)
Posted by: SJW22 | August 31, 2011 at 12:23 AM
Our prayers go up to this wonderful citizen, Mr. Zupan and his family!!
Posted by: Plog | August 31, 2011 at 04:58 AM
I'll bet the Perp has NO Insurance.
Posted by: Chuck Legg | August 31, 2011 at 07:16 AM
Illegal. Now we can feed and medicate him for 30 years.
Posted by: Harry | August 31, 2011 at 07:27 AM
Can you scumbags leave the political jabs out of one post?!? Have some respect, you sick selfish, freaks.
John was my boss, he's dead, and its sad because he was a considerate, funny, brave man who led from the front.
Posted by: GBow | August 31, 2011 at 10:34 AM
GBow,
Condolences, to be sure, go out to the family, friends and employees of Mr. Zupan.
However, the fact that the man who caused Mr.Zupan's death was illegal-a witting disrespector of the laws of the country and the state-IS pertinent.
That the very Liberal Democrats prefer to aid and abet these disrespectors of this country's laws rather than supporting their enforcement is relevant as well.
That your nerves are raw due to this untimely incident is understandable, but the scattershot calling of posters "scumbags" and "sick, selfish, freaks" does your request for a more respectful tone no good.
Besides, I may be mistaken, but I don't think Sam Adams hasn't made a post on this thread yet.
Posted by: Heineken Skywalker | August 31, 2011 at 11:53 AM
My husband and I have shopped at Zupan's for quite some time.We were sorry to see the Beaverton store close. We travel to Mccadam ave. and shop there. They have a great deli and meat department. we always order our Thanksgiving turkey from Zupan's. We never met John but it's nice to know that he was so well thought of by his employees. Our prayers are with his family.
Posted by: Dru | August 31, 2011 at 11:54 AM
I had an employee in Texas that allowed her 15 year old son to take the family car out and joyride. Her response to my questioning her tolerence was "boys will be boys". I inquired about her financial responsibilty if an accident ocurred and was informed they would change their name and flee like the last time it happened because insurance is for anglos!
Posted by: J.Paul | August 31, 2011 at 03:39 PM
"insurance is for anglos" damn right! yes we can!
Posted by: N DeLaRosa | August 31, 2011 at 06:22 PM