KPTV - FOX 12Driver accused in fatal hit-and-run appears in court

A driver accused in a hit-and-run crash that killed a man on Southeast Foster Road made his first appearance in court Friday.

Jim Patterson, who turned himself in to Portland Police Thursday, is facing two counts of failure to perform the duties of a driver.

The victim, 26-year-old Jason Grant, was found lying in the road near Southeast 71st Avenue last weekend.

Portland Police said detectives were on the way to Patterson's house Thursday when he turned himself in.

There they found a Toyota pickup truck that was damaged in a way consistent with a collision involving a pedestrian.

In court, the prosecutor told the judge the reason Patterson did not stay at the scene of the accident was because he had been drinking.

Patterson lives a little more than a mile from the accident scene. He did not answer the door and made no comment after court Friday afternoon.

A neighbor said Patterson lives alone and has been a good neighbor, but is now involved in a tragic and heartbreaking case.

"It's really sad, when I know that he hit someone and let that person die," said neighbor Trang Vu. "But then he turned himself in."

Friends of Grant held a vigil for him Thursday night.

They said he loved playing in a band and had become a responsible worker at his day job.

"He was always my right-hand man for playing music," said fellow band member Luke Alexander. "And he inspired a lot of us."

"He was secure. He had a place there," said Jeremy Webb, who worked with Grant at a paper box factory. "A lot of his coworkers, owners of the company, they all liked him."

Patterson's bail was set at $40,000. He is due back in court on Feb. 17.

A grand jury will look at the facts in the case and may indict Patterson on additional charges.

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