A high-speed pursuit involving a stolen vehicle ended in the Pearl District of Portland yesterday afternoon when the driver struck two pedestrians, authorities reported. The Portland Police Bureau, which encountered the stolen car near Northwest 9th Avenue and West Burnside Street at around 1 p.m., attempted to stop the vehicle before it sped off, according to a news release obtained by OregonLive. Fleeing north through the Pearl District, the driver turned east on Northwest Glisan Street and subsequently lost control, resulting in the injuries of two bystanders.
The incident, now under the investigation of the bureau's Major Crash Team, left both pedestrians with significant injuries, leading to their transportation to a hospital. The current conditions of the victims remain undisclosed at this time. "I hope that those people are okay, 'cause it had nothing to do with them, clearly. And it sucks the most when people who are just minding their business get sucked into other people's life drama and circumstances," Liz Lubecki, a local resident, told KATU about the ordeal faced by the unsuspecting pedestrians.
Following the crash, the driver was detained by police, escaping the incident without harm to their own. “It’s kind of scary. Especially because the part of town is very walkable and very close to everything so people come here all the time,” one resident explained, suggesting an increased vigilance following the incident, "I’m going to keep my head on a swivel much more now. Keep a headphone out of my ear and just kind of pay attention now," they told KPTV.
As the investigation proceeded, vehicular and TriMet MAX service disruptions were significant. Northwest 6th Avenue was closed between Northwest Flanders Street and Northwest Hoyt Street. Furthermore, Northwest Glisan Street saw closures between Northwest 5th Avenue and Northwest Broadway for several hours. Mohamed, the driver at the center of this calamity, is facing a slew of charges, including Assault in the Second Degree, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, and a myriad of vehicle and property-related offenses, detailed in reporting by KPTV.
