A person was found dead in a vehicle after it plowed into a health club in downtown Portland, Oregon, early Saturday morning - and, because this is 2024, investigators also found explosives inside the car. Because of course they did.
Portland police and fire crews responded to the Multnomah Athletic Club shortly before 3 a.m. after the vehicle crashed through the front entrance and caught fire. Once the blaze was brought under control, a person was discovered dead inside the vehicle, police said in a statement. An explosive disposal unit was called in after evidence of an explosive device was discovered, because nothing says "fitness" like propane tanks and pipe bombs.
Sources told the Oregonian that the driver was a former employee of the club - allegedly disgruntled and with mental health issues - who rented a car on Friday, drove it into the building, toured the first floor, and then set off the explosive devices, believed to be a mix of propane tanks and pipe bombs. The first floor housed a casual restaurant, formal event spaces, a members' lounge overlooking Providence Park, a retail store, and the front desk. Other amenities included workout rooms, pools, a rock-climbing wall, an indoor track, various sport courts, and three other restaurants - none of which, thankfully, were open at the time.
Club spokesperson Adam Linnman said in a statement that the crash occurred when the club was closed and that no members or staff were injured. He said officials deferred to local and federal authorities for additional details. A note on the club's website said the facility "will remain closed until further notice" and asked members and neighbors to avoid the area. Special agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also responded, because when you mix propane tanks and pipe bombs, the ATF doesn't need an invitation.
The Multnomah Athletic Club, founded in 1891, bills itself as the largest private athletic and social club in the U.S., boasting more than 21,000 members - who will now have to find another place to work out while authorities figure out how a disgruntled ex-employee turned their gym into a crime scene.