Man dies after explosive-laden car crashes into Portland athletic club

A vehicle loaded with explosives and propane crashed into the Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland shortly before 3 a.m., killing the driver and turning a private members club into a prolonged bomb scene. Police described the incident as isolated and said they did not believe it was domestic terrorism, but the attack still exposed how vulnerable the building was to a vehicle-borne assault in the middle of the night.

Investigators found multiple incendiary devices, improvised explosive devices and propane tanks inside the vehicle. Some had partially detonated, while others were in varying states of activation, forcing responders to treat the area as unstable long after the fire was out. The Portland Police Bureau’s Explosive Disposal Unit was still processing the scene more than 14 hours later, using robots as a remote precaution because remaining devices could still be triggered. Federal Bureau of Investigation agents and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives personnel joined local police at the club.

The Multnomah Athletic Club, founded in 1891, said it has more than 21,000 members and bills itself as the largest private athletic and social club in the United States. It was closed indefinitely after the attack. A club spokesperson said the damage to the building was significant but contained, a sign that the immediate danger was limited even as the site remained an active hazard for investigators and responders.

Multnomah Athletic Club staff told members the rebuilding effort would take time. “Our immediate priority is ensuring the club is safe and ready to welcome you back,” staff said in a statement posted Sunday afternoon. That safety work was already underway as crews continued clearing the scene and checking for any remaining danger.

Police have not publicly identified the driver, and the medical examiner was still working to determine the person’s identity because of the risk posed by the remaining explosive devices. For the club, which sits in the heart of Portland and serves thousands of members, the crash left behind a stark reminder that a single vehicle breach can trigger a long-running emergency with consequences far beyond the initial impact.