A Portland man is now facing serious charges after an altercation on the Sunset Highway that left a motorcyclist injured. According to a report from the Portland Police Bureau, 60-year-old David J. Bumgardner of Beaverton, was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on multiple charges including Assault in the Second Degree and Reckless Driving.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, June 26, when officers were dispatched to a collision on eastbound Highway 26. Upon arrival, police found an overturned 2006 Subaru Legacy and a downed 2016 Yamaha motorcycle. The rider, transported to the hospital, sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries. During the preliminary investigation, it was determined that pursuing the motorcyclist at a high speed, Bumgardner crashed into the motorcycle after the rider had attempted lane splitting, which is illegal in Oregon.

Tha Ouk, the 47-year-old motorcyclist from Vancouver, Washington, received multiple citations related to the crash including Driving Uninsured and Failure to Drive Within a Lane. Witnesses at the scene reported that after the motorcycle made contact with Bumgardner's car, the motorist gave chase onto the shoulder, eventually colliding with the motorcycle as the rider slowed down for traffic control.

The force of the collision caused Bumgardner's vehicle to overturn, trapping Ouk underneath. Helping to lift the vehicle off the motorcyclists were passing motorists, which allowed for Ouk to be freed and eventually taken for medical care. As reported by the Portland Police Bureau, Bumgardner's charges emphasize the seriousness of his alleged actions, further punctuating the dire ramifications of road rage and reckless driving.