On Friday, April 13, 2018, at 1:28 a.m., a Central Precinct officer was injured when a SUV crashed into his patrol vehicle near the intersection of Southeast Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard and Southeast Clay Street.
This crash occurred as a Central Precinct officer drove in his marked patrol vehicle eastbound on Southeast Clay Street. As the officer drove across Southeast Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, the driver of a Jeep Liberty that was traveling southbound, failed to stop for a red light and crashed into the officer's patrol vehicle.
Immediately after the crash, the officer requested additional officers and emergency medical responders to the location to assist with the driver of the vehicle who had crashed into his patrol vehicle. When emergency medical personnel arrived they determined the driver of the Jeep did not sustain injuries as a result of the crash. The officer was transported to an area hospital in a patrol vehicle for assessment of injuries as a result of the crash and was released after treatment.
Based on information learned during the investigation officers believe the driver of the Jeep drove under the influence of marijuana.
The suspect in this crash was identified as 27-year-old Shelby A. Ratliff. Ratliff was lodged at the Multnomah County Jail on charges of Driving Under the Influence -- Marijuana and Reckless Driving.
The Portland Police Bureau investigated 1,030 incidents in the City of Portland in which a person was arrested for Driving Under the Influence between April 1, 2017, and March 31, 2018. There were 172 reported victims of Driving Under the Influence during the same time period. The Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division has investigated 10 fatal crashes in 2018, three of those crashes are believed to involve impairment.
Drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs injure and kill thousands of people every year. People consuming alcohol or drugs should not get behind the wheel and should have a sober driver or utilize taxis, rideshare companies or transit so everyone is safe on our streets. Report impaired drivers to 9-1-1.
The Portland Police Bureau is committed to working with our partners in government and the community to create safer streets and work toward 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:
https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/40390
###PPB###