PORTLAND, OR — Two PPB officers were injured early Wednesday when their squad car was struck by a vehicle during a pursuit in southeast Portland, reports the Portland Police Bureau.
The wreck occurred at 119th Avenue and Southeast Powell Boulevard, in the Powellhurst-Gilbert area, shortly after 1:42 a.m.
According to officials, East Precinct officers had been called to the area of Southeast 119th Avenue and Southeast Clinton Street for a welfare check. When officers arrived, they found a man slumped over, and possibly impaired, behind the wheel of a blue Ford 350 pickup truck. A handgun and drug paraphernalia were also spotted inside the vehicle. Before waking the man, officers placed spike strips under the tires of the pickup to reduce the chance of the driver fleeing in an impaired state.
The male driver later woke and began to drive south on 119th Avenue at high speeds, but the spike strips proved to be effective at deflating his tires. As he approached Powell Boulevard, he ran a stop sign and struck a parked but occupied squad car head-on.
Two officers who were inside the police vehicle sustained minor injuries.
Though the suspect fled on foot, he was apprehended about twenty minutes later. Authorities soon learned the F350 had been stolen out of Vancouver, Washington.
Officers booked the suspect into Multnomah County Detention Center for an investigation into multiple charges, including “unlawful use of a motor vehicle” and “possession of a stolen motor vehicle.”
Were you the victim of a recent Portland-area car crash involving a reckless driver? After a painful and preventable event, you have a right to fight for fair compensation. A dedicated Portland car accident lawyer at Herron Law is prepared to walk you through the next steps. Call us at 503-367-0829 or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation.
