Officers in squad car injured in Centennial hit-and-run

Fortunately, these Portland Police Bureau officers weren’t badly injured in the outer East Portland crash; but their cruiser is a total wreck. Help them identify the smash-and-fleeing driver and car who hit them and fled …

Investigators block off the SE 148th Avenue and Stark Street after a driver smashes into a police cruiser in the centennial neighborhood, and then drives away.

By David F. Ashton

A late-night dispatch for two Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers ended abruptly on Tuesday, January 13, when at 2:40 a.m., their marked patrol car – with lights flashing, and siren wailing – was broadsided by another vehicle near SE 148th Avenue and Stark Street.

The collision caused significant damage to the passenger side of the police vehicle, triggering the police car’s airbags.

After the crew of Portland Fire & Rescue Mill Park Station 7’s Ladder Truck Company pops open the crushed door of the police car, the officer is able to escape the wrecked vehicle. PPB image

The officer on the passenger side was “pinned in” to the vehicle, until Portland Fire & Rescue Mill Park Station 7’s Ladder Truck arrived and pried open the door with their power rescue tools.

Both officers were taken by ambulance to a local hospital with minor injuries, and later released.

Police are on the lookout for a possibly blue-colored Chevy Suburban, seen here on surveillance video fleeing the scene across the TriMet MAX Light Rail tracks on SE 148th Avenue. Via PPB image

Apparently, the dark, possibly blue-colored, Chevy Suburban – now with significant front-end and bumper damage – drove off, northbound on SE 148th Avenue, and was captured by Transit Security Police surveillance cameras crossing the TriMet MAX Light Rail tracks.

If you have information about this incident, contact crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference Case No. 26-11604.

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