Two lives were abruptly ended, and a third was left hanging in the balance following a catastrophic vehicle crash that occurred after a failed attempt to flee a traffic stop in Gresham. The tragic incident unfolded last Friday night when a vehicle aggressively sped through a street known for racing gatherings, alerting the Gresham Police, who were on duty as part of a multi-agency mission targeting such illegal activities.
Details obtained by the Portland Police Bureau reveal that at approximately 11:55 p.m., officers attempted to pull over the reckless driver at Northeast 122nd Avenue and Northeast Hancock Street. Ignoring the illuminated signals of law enforcement, the driver opted to act quickly and evade capture, inevitably leading to a pursuit. Air support was called, and measures to strategically end the chase by deploying spike strips were underway.
Disaster struck merely two minutes later. At 11:57 p.m., the fleeing vehicle met its fate against a utility pole. It turned over near Northeast Marx Street, the violent collision extinguishing the future of two individuals on the spot and inflicting serious injuries upon a third. The responders from the emergency medical services pronounced the dual fatality at the scene while the survivor was rushed to the hospital.
The aftermath of the crash precipitated an investigation by the Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division Major Crash Team. As they piece together the fragments of this horrific occurrence, Northeast 122nd Avenue has been closed between Northeast Shaver and Northeast Marx Street to facilitate the meticulous scrutiny required to accurately comprehend the events that led to such a devastating loss.
