Eastbound Interstate 84 in northeast Portland nearly froze in place Friday afternoon after bullets hit a Toyota Highlander, according to a witness who said he watched the chaos unfold in holiday weekend traffic.
Witness says gunfire came from another car
Brad Hall, who said he was driving with four children in his vehicle, told The Oregonian/OregonLive that someone inside a separate car opened fire on the Highlander around 12:30 p.m. near the 148th Avenue exit. He said the SUV was struck, then swerved over to the shoulder.
Hall told the paper he saw a man in the Highlander turn to check on what looked like a child in the back seat. He estimated the shooter squeezed off at least four rounds before speeding off into traffic.
Hall said it was not clear from his vantage point whether anyone in the SUV had been injured.
Police say they found no immediate evidence
Portland officers responded to reports of shots fired on the freeway, but when they reached the area, Sgt. Kevin Allen told The Oregonian/OregonLive that officers "found no immediate evidence of gunfire." By the time police arrived, neither the Highlander nor the other vehicle described by the witness was still on scene.
Investigators had not publicly released any information about a possible suspect vehicle or any confirmed injuries as of late Friday.
Busy Fourth of July roads add to tension
The reported shooting landed right in the middle of what was already expected to be a packed travel period on I-84 and other major routes. State transportation officials had warned that Fourth of July journeys would clog popular corridors, including the stretch of I-84 through the Columbia River Gorge.
Drivers should plan for delays and pad their schedules, David House of the Oregon Department of Transportation told KLCC, advising motorists to "give yourself a lot of extra time" and expect backups on heavily used highways.
Police want tips, video from the scene
Portland police are asking for the public's help as they try to sort out what happened on the freeway. Investigators said they are reviewing witness statements and traffic camera footage in an effort to identify the shooter.
Anyone who saw the incident or has video from the area is asked to contact the Portland Police nonemergency line at 503-823-3333 or use the bureau's online tip resources.
