The driver involved in the crash that injured two officers was arrested on multiple charges and taken to jail early Saturday morning.
53-year-old Ken Thomas Neely was booked into the Multnomah County Jail on charges of Assault Three (two counts), Recklessly Endangering Another Person (three counts), Reckless Driving, and Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII). He will be arraigned on Tuesday January 16, 2018.
The driver involved in the initial incident and a third driver, who nearly crashed into another officer, were also charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII).
The sergeant injured in the crash was treated and released from the hospital. The injured officer remains in the hospital and is expected to be released soon.
Drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs injure and kill thousands of people every year. People consuming alcohol or drugs are urged not to get behind the wheel and should have a sober driver or utilize taxis, rideshare companies, or transit so everyone is safe on our streets.
The Portland Police Bureau is committed to working with our partners in government and the community to create safer streets and work towards reducing, and eventually eliminating, traffic fatalities as part of Vision Zero.
To learn more about the City of Portland's Vision Zero effort, please visit: http://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/40390
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###ORIGINAL MESSAGE BELOW###
On Saturday January 13, 2018, at 12:46 a.m., North Precinct officers responded to I-5 northbound, just south of the Interstate Bridge, on the report of a hazardous vehicle blocking the right lane of traffic and a possible drunk driver.
An officer and a sergeant arrived at the scene and a driver was taken into custody for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII). As officers were awaiting a tow truck, another driver crashed into one of the police cars, injuring the officer inside and the sergeant outside the vehicle.
Both the officer and sergeant were transported by ambulance to a Portland hospital for treatment to serious, but not life-threatening injuries. The initial driver arrested was not injured, nor was the driver involved in the crash. The driver involved in the crash was detained at the scene.
Traffic Division officers are at the scene conducting a crash investigation.
I-5 northbound is closed to all traffic, which is being diverted off the freeway at Jantzen Beach. As soon as the investigation is complete on the freeway, it will reopen to all traffic. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is assisting with traffic control.
No additional updates are expected to be released on this incident until late-Saturday morning.
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