(NEW PHOTOS) Truck Drivers Help Police Stop Attempt to Elude on Interstate 84

Police say commercial truck drivers who stopped the driver used CB radios to coordinate their effort.

Photo of Erwin Bartlett: Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility

(BIGGS JUNCTION, Ore.) - Oregon State Police say three commercial truck drivers brought a police chase to a grinding halt today near Boardman on Interstate 84.

Sergeant Patrick Shortt with OSP says the driver is alleged to have led a chase today that spanned fifty miles. The suspect's attempts to elude officers started in the Boardman area Shortt added, and ended near the John Day Dam, where three truck drivers blocked the westbound lanes of Interstate 84, leading to the suspect abandon his attempt and flee on foot before being captured.

Officers from the Boardman Police Department and Morrow County Sheriff's Office say they attempted to stop the red 2002 Ford Taurus operated by 43-year old Erwin Bartlett of Chehalis, Washington around 1:37 PM Sunday. Earlier, the car had been reported as being involved in a hit and run crash in Union County.

Shortt says the chase involved speeds of 100 miles per hour.

"When the officers attempted to stop Bartless westbound on Interstate 84 near Boardman he accelerated and continued westbound at speeds in excess of 100 mph. As the attempt to elude neared Arlington an Oregon State Police trooper took over the lead with the continued assistance of the Boardman Police officer."

He says that as Bartlett's attempt to elude the officers approached milepost 117 near the John Day River, the three commercial motor vehicle drivers assisted in stopping his vehicle. The three drivers, who were traveling westbound on Interstate 84 ahead of Bartlett and the officers, had been alerted of the ongoing elude over their CB radios, Shortt said.

"Coordinating with one another over the CB radio, the three drivers positioned their commercial trucks abreast of each other creating a rolling roadblock. As the truck drivers slowed their vehicles to less than 5 miles per hour, Bartlett stopped his car in the middle of the westbound lanes and fled on foot."

Car Bartlett allegedly used in elude, courtesy: OSP

The OSP trooper and Boardman police officer pursued Bartlett on foot and captured him after a short foot chase. Bartlett was transported to Mid Columbia Medical Center in The Dalles where he was treated for minor injuries sustained during the foot chase and released.

Bartlett was lodged at Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility on charges of Felony Attempt to Elude in a Vehicle, Misdemeanor Attempt to Elude on Foot, Reckless Endangering Another Person and Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants – Drugs.

Police say westbound lanes were closed about one hour due to the vehicle blockage and ensuing foot chase.