2 dead, 1 hospitalized after police chase ends in Northeast Portland crash

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Two people were killed and another is in the hospital after a police chase ended with a crash into a utility pole in Northeast Portland late Friday night.

Just before midnight, authorities said two Gresham police officers were assisting Portland police on a street takeover mission when they said they saw a speeding reckless driver in the area of Northeast 122nd Avenue at Hancock Street.

When officers tried to pull the car over, the driver kept going. Police pursued and then worked to deploy spike strips on the vehicle, authorities said.

Minutes later, officials said, the driver crashed into a utility pole and rolled over near Northeast 122nd Avenue and Marx Street. EMS soon arrived at the scene and confirmed the driver and one passenger were dead. Another passenger was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

“These events are dangerous. These are young and experience drivers that come with very high powered cars,” PPB Lt. Chadd Stensgaard said at a press conference Thursday. “If you are a person doing burn donuts in an intersection you are participating on an organized street racing event. There are felony and misdemeanor crimes that are associated with that. If you are captured you will be held accountable for it.”

No further information, including the identity of the victims, has been released at this time.

Authorities did release some preliminary statistics from the ongoing weekend event: 50 traffic stops, 7 arrests, 4 towed vehicles and 11 citations issued.

One of the cars towed was from a suspected DUII driver who refused a breathalyzer. Officials said he was boxed in by 3 police cars and an open bottle of tequila was found inside.

A motorcyclist who blew through the area near Northeast Airport Way and 148th Avenue eluded officers and ran into a house in the 700 block of NE 160th Avenue. The motorcyclist refused to surrender, forcing police to get a search warrant. The suspect climbed onto the roof of the house but realized he couldn’t get away and finally surrendered after more than 4 hours.

KOIN 6 News will have more information later.

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