A pedestrian was hit and killed early Thursday while trying to cross Interstate 84 in Northeast Portland, police say.

The person who was hit died at the scene, which is on the eastbound interstate at its exit to southbound Interstate 205. Police don’t know why the person was trying to cross the interstate.

He or she hasn’t been publicly identified.

Investigators don’t think the driver, who is cooperating, was impaired or distracted.

Authorities initially responded shortly after 1:30 a.m. The eastbound interstate was closed in the area, but it reopened by about 5 a.m.

The crash marked Portland’s first traffic fatality of 2020. At least 49 people died in Portland traffic crashes last year, making 2019′s traffic death toll the city’s highest since 1997.

Statewide traffic deaths declined by 5% from 2018 levels, according to preliminary figures.

Thursday’s crash remains under investigation, and police urge anyone who has information to contact an investigator at 503-823-2208 or david.enz@portlandoregon.gov.

-- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015

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