PORTLAND, Ore. — A pedestrian died and four other people were taken to the hospital after a series of crashes Thursday near the Safeway on Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, police officials reported. The crashes have all been linked to one driver.

Police officers and fire crews responded at 11:46 a.m. to a report of a serious crash just south of the Safeway. When they arrived, they found a pedestrian dead at the scene. Portland police said two separate crashes happened on Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard at Jarrett Street and Ainsworth Street.

It does not appear to be an intentional act, said Kevin Allen, a public information officer for Portland police.

"I don't want to call it an accident because we don't have a full picture at this point of the cause," he said. "I

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