Two dead after driver fled during police street racing mission

Two people were killed and another seriously injured after the driver of a vehicle attempted to flee a traffic stop by Gresham Police during a multi-agency street racing mission.

At 11:55 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, two Gresham Police officers reported seeing a speeding reckless driver near Northeast 122nd Avenue, at Northeast Hancock Street, while teaming-up with Portland Police.

The officers activated overhead lights and attempted to pull the driver over, but they did not stop. A pursuit began, with the Portland Air Support Unit providing aerial coverage and other officers deploying spike strips.

At 11:57 p.m. the eluding driver struck a utility pole and rolled the car at Northeast 122nd Avenue and Northeast Marx Street. Emergency medical personnel confirmed two died, while another was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

That incident overshadowed what was otherwise a successful mission between Portland and Gresham Police. The results were:

50 traffic stops7 arrests4 towed vehicles11 citations

At 8:30 p.m. officers pulled over a driver in the 2700 block of Northeast 82nd Avenue after they slow-rolled through a high school parking lot and was boxed in by a trio of patrol vehicles. He was arrested and an open bottle of tequila was found in the car.

At 10:49 p.m. a motorcyclist traveling at “extremely high rates” eluded officers attempting to stop him in the area of Northeast Airport Way and Northeast 148th Avenue. The suspect fled on foot into a home int eh 700 block of Northeast 160th Avenue, which officers surrounded and attempted to have him surrender. Eventually a warrant was granted to enter the home.

The suspect attempted to climb onto the roof to get away, but eventually surrendered and was arrested at 3:02 a.m. He remains in custody with charges pending.