A Night of Tragedy Unfolds (Image Credits: Unsplash)
Portland, Oregon – Authorities continue their search for a local woman accused of driving under the influence in a collision that resulted in the death of her 4-year-old son last year.
A Night of Tragedy Unfolds
The incident began on a quiet evening in Portland’s St. Johns neighborhood, where a routine sideswipe escalated into a deadly sequence of events. Police reports detailed how the driver, identified as Angelina Minor, struck a parked vehicle around 9 p.m. on March 20, 2024. Instead of stopping, she accelerated away, prompting the other motorist to follow out of concern.
Officers later determined that Minor operated a Hyundai Elantra with an open bottle of vodka inside. She veered onto the wrong side of North Fessenden Street, ignoring traffic signals and crossing the center line. The car carried multiple children, including her son, Kingston Coston, who suffered fatal injuries in the ensuing crash.
The Devastating Collision
The Hyundai slammed head-on into a Tesla carrying a man and two passengers, leaving a scene of chaos and heartbreak. Emergency responders rushed to the site near Mohawk Avenue, where they pronounced Kingston dead at a nearby hospital. Two other children in Minor’s vehicle and the Tesla’s occupants sustained injuries but survived.
Investigators noted signs of extreme intoxication at the scene, including the open alcohol container and Minor’s impaired state. Blood tests confirmed high levels of impairment, leading to charges of first-degree manslaughter and driving under the influence of intoxicants. The case highlighted the dangers of impaired driving, especially with vulnerable passengers aboard.
Legal Proceedings and Guilty Plea
Minor, then 27, faced initial arrest and prosecution by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office. Court documents revealed she had agreed to a plea deal in September 2025, accepting responsibility for the charges. The agreement stipulated a 10-year prison sentence, reflecting the severity of the loss and her role in the flight from the initial minor accident.
However, complications arose when Minor violated terms of her supervised release. Prosecutors sought stricter measures, but she failed to appear for required check-ins. By late 2025, a felony warrant issued for her arrest on manslaughter, underscoring the ongoing accountability in such cases.
Community Impact and Search Efforts
The tragedy rippled through Portland’s north neighborhoods, prompting renewed calls for tougher enforcement against drunk driving. Local advocacy groups emphasized the risks to children in vehicles, citing statistics from state reports on impaired driving fatalities. Families in the area expressed outrage over the preventable nature of the crash, fueling discussions on road safety education.
Currently, law enforcement urges the public to report sightings of Minor, described as 29 years old with distinctive features noted in alerts. The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office coordinates tips through 911 or anonymous lines, stressing community vigilance in locating her. This pursuit serves as a stark reminder of justice’s persistence in vehicular homicide cases.
- Key elements of the crash: Wrong-side driving, open container, head-on impact.
- Charges involved: Manslaughter, DUII, and related traffic violations.
- Current status: Fugitive on warrant for release violation.
Key Takeaways
- The crash stemmed from fleeing a minor fender-bender, escalating to a fatal wrong-way collision.
- Impaired driving with children present amplifies legal consequences and community grief.
- Public assistance remains crucial in apprehending suspects in ongoing investigations.
As Portland grapples with this sorrowful chapter, the focus sharpens on preventing similar losses through awareness and enforcement. What steps can communities take to curb impaired driving? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
