Portland Police Chase Ends with Drunk Driver Crashing Stolen Jeep into Streetcar Stop
PORTLAND Ore. — The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) confirmed that the drunk driver of an occupied stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee, Edgar Castro, 29, parked in the area of Northwest 14th Avenue and Northwest Johnson Street, fled- only to crash into a streetcar stop at Northwest 10th Avenue and Northwest Glisan Street on Saturday at about 9.49 am. He was arrested and is facing several charges.
Stolen Jeep Driver Crashes Into Police Stop After Fleeing
On Saturday, a Portland Police Officer found a parked, occupied stolen Jeep and requested cover unit assistance. Before help arrived, the driver pulled out onto the street, preemptively eluding the officer who performed a stop.
Castro accelerated above the speed limit and turned southbound onto 10th Avenue from Northwest Marshall Street- against the one-way traffic.
To avoid pushing Castro to continue driving dangerously, officers turned off their overhead emergency police lights, but Castro lost control and crashed into a serving Portland streetcar stop a few blocks later.
At least three people scrambled out of the way, but no one was hurt.
Castro jumped out of the vehicle and ran before being overtaken and arrested by police. He was transported by police vehicle to jail on arrest warrants after being released from hospital and charged with:
- Attempt to Elude Police by Vehicle
- 5 counts of Reckless Driving
- 3 counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person
- Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (alcohol)
- Possession of a Stolen Vehicle
- Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle
- Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver (property damage)
- Criminal Mischief in the First Degree
Castro has been booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center.