Two-Car Crash On I-84 In Wood Village Results In DUII Arrest

WOOD VILLAGE, OR — Multnomah County Sheriff's deputies, responding to a woman lying on the side of Interstate-84 on Thursday night, ended up tending to a two-car accident that resulted in a DUII arrest.

Around 11:45 p.m. June 8, two deputies found a woman lying on the shoulder of I-84 near the Wood Village Exit 17 on-ramp. According to sheriff's officials, one of the deputies — thinking the woman had been hit by a car — turned on his emergency lights. About half a mile away, a driver merging onto I-84 eastbound at the Northeast 238th Drive exit saw the deputies flashing lights and slowed down nearly to a stop as he closed in on the police vehicle, officials said.

A second vehicle also merging onto I-84, driven by a man with two young kids in the backseat, rear-ended the man in the first vehicle, causing a spark in the truck which then ignited. As the flames spread to the gas tank, officials said, a deputy tried to get the driver's side door open but it was stuck. Rolling down the window, the driver climbed out of the car with the deputy's assistance, officials said, noting the car was totaled in the fire.

Looking into the crash, deputies ended up arresting the driver of the second vehicle — which caused the rear-end accident — on suspicion of driving while under the influence of intoxicants. He was taken to the Troutdale Police Community Center, officials said.

While the car fire burned and small explosions lit off from various fuels, oils, and grease, deputies closed I-84 from Wood Village to Troutdale for about 30 minutes, officials said. Gresham Fire and Emergency Services put out the flames and deputies reopened the interstate after roughly 1.5 hours.

The woman on the side of the road, who ostensibly initiated the evening's events, was picked up by a friend, officials said, adding that neither of the children were hurt in the accident and both drivers only complained of minor pain.

Photo Courtesy: Multnomah County Sheriff's Office