Deputy Involved in Four Car Crash on Columbia River Highway

Investigators say alcohol was not a factor.

Photos of scene: Multnomah County Sheriff

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - A Multnomah County Deputy was involved in a four vehicle crash at about 1:50 PM today on Columbia River Highway where it intersects with the Stark Street Bridge.

Lt. Jason Gates with the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office says the deputy received non-life threatening injuries and was transported by ground to Mt. Hood Medical Center. He has since been released.

An elderly female passenger in one of the other involved vehicles also received non-life threatening injuries and was transported by ground to Good Samaritan Hospital. Her condition is unknown at this time. OSP is conducting the crash investigation per MCSO policy when one of our vehicles is involved. The preliminary findings in the investigation show that as the MCSO deputy driving a marked Sheriff's Office patrol vehicle was traveling south bound on the highway when the driver of a northbound 2003 Dodge Ram 3500 P/U was turning left onto the Stark Street Bridge.

Gates says that as the pick-up crossed over into the southbound lanes the MCSO patrol vehicle impacted the it's left front area with the left side of the patrol vehicle.

"The patrol vehicle was thrown into a rock wall and wooden guard rail on the south west side of the intersection which caused the patrol vehicle to go airborne. After coming back to the ground, the patrol vehicle then proceeded into the north bound lanes impacting a 2006 Buick Lucerne and a 2006 Honda CRV."

He says the Patrol vehicle was totaled while the other involved vehicles received extensive damage.

"The deputy was engaged in regular patrol at the time of the crash and was not in pursuit or running code 3 at the time. The names of the deputy and other involved parties are being withheld until the crash investigation has been concluded."

Gates says no indication of alcohol was present regarding the driver of the Dodge Ram 3500 and no citations have been issued at this time.