PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — It is one tragedy after another for the family of DaRon Craig, the man killed by a car that crashed into him while walking on a sidewalk in Portland, Oregon, last week. Just hours after a vigil for DaRon on Friday, his family’s house was damaged in a fire.
Portland Fire and Rescue officials said the fire might have been caused by embers from a barbecue sitting over bark chips in the front yard of the home. Angeline McKinney-Craig, DaRon’s ex-wife and life-long friend, said the family had a BBQ before the vigil.
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The family of a man killed in a crash in Northeast Portland has been displaced due to a house fire. August 14, 2025 (KOIN). -
DaRon Craig was identified as the victim of a deadly crash in Portland on Aug. 7, 2025. -
DaRon Craig was identified as the victim of a deadly crash in Portland on Aug. 7, 2025. -
DaRon Craig was identified as the victim of a deadly crash in Portland on Aug. 7, 2025. -
The family of a man killed in a crash in Northeast Portland has been displaced due to a house fire. August 14, 2025 (KOIN). -
Officials said one pedestrian – identified as DaRon Craig – died and four people were hospitalized after three crashes that appear to be related were reported in Northeast Portland August, 2025 around the Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Safeway store (Courtesy Portland Police Bureau).
She told Nexstar’s KOIN she smelled smoke around 8 a.m. Saturday morning.
“I went out to the front door, open the front door, and the second I opened it, smoke just engulfed the whole area,” Angeline said. “I just broke down on the ground because how much more can you lose? How much more can you go through?”
She was able to get the kids out safe. However, now the front porch has significant damage, and the house is unlivable due to smoke damage. Angeline and her kids are now staying in a hotel for the time being.
“All I could think about is, you know, this was our only stability, you know, that we had. And it just, it just all was happening all at the same time and it was just too much,” she said.
As they slowly rebuild, Angeline said the whole community has helped in any way they can in light of these tragedies. She said community members even donated nearly $26,000 to the GoFundMe she created for DaRon’s funeral expenses.
“That’s all I can do is just believe that, you know, the community has been great. And so I have to believe that no matter what, we’ll be okay in the end through all of this,” Angeline said.
A spokesperson with the Portland Police Bureau said they’re still investigating what caused the crash that killed DaRon.