Drunk Driver Hits Parked Car, House In Milwaukie, Police Say

MILWAUKIE, OR — A 68-year-old Milwaukie man is being charged with DUII after crashing his BMW, getting out, and then allowing it to roll backward into a house late Thursday, police said.

William Lee Lawrence was reportedly driving in a residential area on Southeast Harrison Street, near Southeast 36th Avenue, when he rammed into a parked Ford SUV around 11:30 p.m. July 13, police said.

Exiting his vehicle, Lawrence failed to put his BMW into park, police said, leaving the car to roll backward unoccupied. As it rolled downhill on Southeast Harrison Street, it hit street signs, a fence, and NW Natural gas line before running into the side of a house, police said.

No residents or witnesses were injured in the incident, police said, though Clackamas County Fire and NW Natural personnel were needed to shut off the gas and repair broken line.

Lawrence was taken to a nearby hospital with unknown minor injuries, police said, adding that he will be charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants.

Photo Courtesy: Milwaukie Police Department