Police cruiser flips after being smashed into by non-yielding pickup truck

‘Seat belts save lives’ – a sentiment that’s even true in police cars! Here’s what we learned about an odd outer East Portland crash, in the Hazelwood neighborhood …

After being T-boned by a pickup truck while heading to a call on NE Glisan Street, this PPB cruiser is on its top.

By David F. Ashton

It was amazing to onlookers that two Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers suffered no injuries, when their patrol SUV was smacked into by another driver on August 3.

At 7:11 p.m., two PPB East Precinct officers were bound towards an emergency call, going east on NE Glisan Street toward the I-205 interchange, with lights and sirens activated.

This is the full-size pickup truck that rammed the police car in the intersection – with emergency lights flashing and sirens sounding.

“They were slowly clearing the intersection and traffic was yielding,” said PPB Public Information Manager Mike Benner.

“A driver, who was approaching the intersection on the northbound I-205 offramp, went around the cars yielding to the police and entered the intersection, crashing into the side of the police vehicle and causing it to roll over,” Benner described.

The intersection of NE Glisan Street and the I-205 interchange are closed for hours while this crash is investigated.

The officers did not report substantial injuries, and were taken by a police sergeant to a local hospital for a precautionary evaluation. The driver of the other vehicle and a passenger declined medical treatment.

While no one was arrested, the truck that smashed into a police car looks to have been severely damaged.
When asked if the pickup truck driver was impaired – or operating the truck recklessly – Benner told East Portland News, “At this time, no arrests have been made, and no citations issued.” Which does not necessarily mean the driver won’t be required to answer for this driving error in the future.

Images courtesy of Portland Police Bureau

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