Chaos erupted in downtown Portland early Friday morning after a street fight near Northwest 4th Avenue and Couch Street escalated into an incident involving a suspected drunk driver hitting four pedestrians. According to KPTV, the altercation occurred shortly after local bars closed and involved a large group of people. Portland Police Bureau officers responded to the scene to break up the brawl and reported no serious injuries from the fight itself.
As the crowd, estimated at about 100 people, began to disperse, the situation took a dangerous turn. "A driver going eastbound on NW Couch Street ran a stop sign and struck four people in the street," said Sergeant Kevin Allen, in a statement obtained by KATU. The officers, already on scene, were able to quickly intervene. They arrested the driver, identified as 32-year-old Tyler William Miller, on suspicion of driving to impair under the influence of intoxicants (DUII).
Following the incident, paramedics treated the victims. Two of the injured parties were taken to the hospital by ambulance, while two others independently sought medical care. Injuries included concussions, a broken arm, and a head laceration requiring stitches, but all were reported as non-life-threatening. Miller now faces charges that include DUII, reckless driving, two counts of assault in the third degree, and 15 counts of recklessly endangering another person.
The aftermath of the event is still under scrutiny, with the incident remaining under investigation. "The four people hit by the car were treated at the scene. Two were taken by ambulance to the hospital, while two others went there in private vehicles," detailed KGW. Police stated that all four victims were conscious and able to speak with officers at the scene, and are expected to fully recover. Meanwhile, Miller's reckless actions promise to now be scrutinized in the court of law as much as they have already been in the court of public opinion.
