KPTV - FOX 12Driver arrested in fatal hit-and-run on SE Foster Road, vigil held for victim

A man has turned himself in as the driver who fatally struck a pedestrian on Southeast Foster Road, the same day the victim's friends gathered for a candlelight vigil.

Jim Dean Patterson, 53, approached an officer at the Eastport Plaza Police Office and was arrested by traffic investigators, say police. He had apparently seen extensive coverage of Saturday's hit-and-run on television.

At the time of the arrest, police say officers were on their way to Patterson's home to check out a CrimeStoppers tip.

Patterson is accused of killing Jason Grant, 26, on Saturday night near Southeast Foster Road and 70th Avenue, then leaving the scene.

Patterson has been charged with two counts of failure to perform the duties of a driver  and is being held on $500,000 bail.

His green 2000 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck was also found at his home with damage consistent with the crash, say police.

"I'm glad they caught the guy and everything, but like, I would like to know why," said Luke Alexander, who was Grant's band mate.  "What made him run my friend over and just leave?"

Alexander said Grant played cello in their band, Something Else. Alexander and two other band members performed two songs at the vigil.

"We don't have a cello player right now," he said before they began.  "We're going to sing this song as best we can without him."

Co-workers and friends clutched candles and photos of Grant at Thursday night's vigil.

"It's going to be rough without him all the way around," said Jeremy Webb, Grant's roommate and co-worker at Northwest Paper Box. Webb said Grant had found success at work, after much perseverance.

"There's a lot of his coworkers here today, our boss, the owners of the company," said Webb. "They all liked him, loved him just as much as everyone else. He made quite an impact on us all."

Neighbors also attended the vigil, hoping it would call attention to the dangers of SE Foster Road.

Portland has identified the street as a high crash corridor and has applied for a federal grant that would provide millions of dollars for safety improvements.

One neighbor, Angel Flurry, came to the crash scene shortly after Grant was hit. She witnessed a registered nurse performing rescue breaths and a group of strangers blocking traffic. Flurry says at least three people had placed coats over Grant.

"It was important for me for the family to know that he wasn't alone on a cold street, he was absolutely surrounded by people who care," she said.

Previous story:

Jan. 29, 2012: Police identify man killed in Foster Road hit-and-run

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