Juvenile victim in fatal Portland crash identified as Scarborough student
13‑Year‑Old Teen Killed in Saturday Night Crash on Portland’s Warren Avenue
A 13‑year‑old Scarborough student died Saturday night after a vehicle struck a group of teenagers walking on the north side of Warren Avenue near the Interstate 95 overpass. Police are still investigating the incident; no charges have been filed against the 48‑year‑old driver, and details about the vehicle or the teenagers’ origins remain undisclosed.
The Fatal Collision
Around 9 p.m. on Saturday, a group of teenagers was walking on the north side of Warren Avenue when they “entered the roadway abruptly,” according to a statement from Portland Police. A car traveling in the same direction struck them. Abdulrahman Mohammed, 13, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other teens— a 14‑year‑old and a 15‑year‑old—were transported to Maine Medical Center with serious but non‑life‑threatening injuries. The rest of the group reportedly sustained no injuries. Police confirmed that the driver was a 48‑year‑old Portland resident, but they declined to share whether charges would be filed and withheld information about the vehicle involved.
Who Was Mohammed?
In a letter to families, Portland School Superintendent Diane Nadeau identified Mohammed as an eighth‑grade student from Scarborough who had attended Biddeford schools until seventh grade. “He would be best described as a friendly, fun‑loving person with a big personality and someone who enjoyed time with his friends, playing soccer and basketball,” the superintendent wrote.
Superintendent Ryan Scallon of Portland Public Schools confirmed that three students from Deering High School were among the injured but stated he could not disclose further details out of respect for the students and their families.
Both the Scarborough and Portland school districts announced counseling services for students during the week following the tragedy.
Safety Concerns on Warren Avenue
The collision occurred on a stretch of Warren Avenue that lacks sidewalks, crosswalks, and streetlights. The posted speed limit is 35 mph, and the center turn lane continues under the overpass. The area is a commercial‑industrial corridor that sees high traffic volumes.
Myles Smith, chair of the city’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, highlighted the deficiencies: “No sidewalk, no crosswalk, no streetlights, high speed limits — we don’t know all the facts of what happened here, but we do know that streets like these are deadly.” He noted that hundreds of children use the nearby sports complex daily, and the absence of safe pedestrian infrastructure makes it difficult to get to the complex without vehicular risk. Smith suggested that the city should immediately remove the center turn lane in that section and consider installing cones and new lane markings to give pedestrians more room for error.
Andrew Zarro, executive director of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, expressed the organization’s grief: “Our first responsibility is to hold space for those who are grieving. Our next responsibility is to make sure we learn everything we can from this crash and act so that another family does not have to experience this.” The coalition has called for a comprehensive Vision Zero initiative aimed at ending serious pedestrian injuries and deaths in Portland.
Political Reactions
Councilor Anna Bullett posted on social media, urging residents to attend city meetings and demand “more resources and bold and swift Vision Zero actions.” Councilor Wes Pelletier echoed concerns about the road’s commercial‑industrial character and the resulting high speeds, stating that “we need processes that put people before cars.” Pelletier criticized the current configuration of the roadway, especially the center turn lane, and urged the city to make structural changes to improve pedestrian safety.
Context: Pedestrian Fatalities in Portland
Mohammed’s death marks the third pedestrian fatality in Portland in the last four months. Earlier this year, a woman was killed in a hit‑and‑run on Forest Avenue in late August, and a man was killed on Marginal Way in June. Last year, Portland recorded five pedestrian deaths. The increasing number of incidents has intensified calls for a Vision Zero approach and has brought pedestrian safety to the forefront of municipal policy discussions.
Current Investigation Status
Police have yet to release additional details about the incident. No charges have been filed, and the department declined to comment further on the driver’s identity beyond the fact that he is a Portland resident. They also did not disclose the type of vehicle involved or whether the teenagers had been traveling from a particular destination.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have asked for any witnesses or footage from the area to aid in determining the circumstances that led to the tragedy.
Community Response
In the wake of the crash, local businesses and civic organizations have expressed shock and sadness. The Portland Police Department’s release includes a statement that “the group of teenagers was heading toward Riverside Street near the Interstate 95 overpass, adjacent to a complex that is home to Fitness Factory, Goldfish Swim School and the Portland Sports Complex.”
The community’s reaction has underscored the urgency of addressing pedestrian infrastructure gaps. As officials and advocacy groups push for changes—ranging from additional lighting and crosswalks to traffic calming measures—Maine News Now will continue to follow the investigation and the city’s response to this tragic incident.
The victim’s family has requested privacy, and authorities have emphasized that no further personal information will be released at this time.
