Driver Without Headlights Hits 120 MPH Then Wipes Out While Fleeing Police

Clackamas County deputies on the scene say the vehicle rolled numerous times while the driver was ejected onto State Hwy 26.

Salem-News.com

(Clackamas) - Deputies in Clackamas County say they saw a driver operating a gray 1990 Toyota without headlights just after 11:30 PM Sunday. The car was westbound on State Highway 26, east of the City of Sandy.

Officers say they attempted to pull the Toyota over, but the driver failed to respond to the commands and emergency lights.

Two more police cars joined in the pursuit, says Clackamas Detective James E. Strovink, while the vehicle traveled through the City of Sandy, the traffic officers continued their efforts at trying to stop it, as it blew past the Sandy City limits.

Officers say they used a Pursuit Intervention Technique or PIT, and tried to bring the Toyota to a halt as it was traveling 35 mph on State Highway 26, nearing the intersection of SE 362.

The tactical maneuver slowed the driver down according to officers, but the suspect still refused to pull over and continued westbound on Highway 26.

To what must have been the horror of officers, trying desperately to pull the driver over safely, the car continued westbound, `while dramatically increasing speed to an estimated 120 MPH as this vehicle approached the SE Stone Road area; where the driver ultimately lost control of this vehicle."

Strovink says uniform personnel on the scene describe this vehicle rolling numerous times while the driver was ejected onto State Hwy 26, just west of SE Stone Road.

Investigators say the entire thing lasted a total of 7 minutes.

Alcohol is being considered as a contributing factor in this investigation.

Life Flight was activated to the scene and the driver of the Toyota was airlifted to Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital for emergency medical attention.

Police say other information indicates that the driver may have just arrived from Warm Springs, and reports of a similar vehicle driving recklessly in the Tenino area had been reported earlier in the evening by motorists to law enforcement.

Warm Spring authorities report this vehicle may have been taken by force earlier in the evening during a strong armed robbery event.

Police in Warm Springs say the man is mentally unstable and a potential threat to law enforcement.