A man in mental health crisis was minorly injured after moving in front of an armored Portland Police Bureau vehicle on the Banfield freeway, causing a low-speed collision.
On Friday, March 17, 2023 at 7:26p.m., a Portland Police officer was driving an armored Special Emergency Reaction Team vehicle westbound on I-84 near Northeast 82nd Avenue. The officer was not heading to an emergency call and his lights or sirens were not activated.
The officer noticed traffic in the adjacent lane was slowing down, so he reduced speed as well to assess the possible hazard. The officer then saw a man on the freeway. The man walked directly into the path of the police vehicle. The officer initiated emergency braking and collision avoidance steering but the man continued to move himself in front of the swerving police vehicle. The officer could not avoid a collision. The officer immediately got out to render aid to the man and summon EMS. The man suffered soreness but no serious injuries and his injuries did not rise to the level that they required ambulance transport.
A traffic crash investigation was conducted, including separate interviews with the officer, other witnesses, and the man involved. The investigation revealed that the man, an adult male, was jumping in front of vehicles in an attempt to commit suicide. Prior to colliding with the police vehicle, the man’s arm was struck by the sideview mirror of another vehicle that was just ahead of the police vehicle. The driver of that vehicle also remained on scene. Officers placed the man on a Police Officer Hold at the hospital in an effort to get him mental health treatment. The man was transported to the hospital by ambulance on the hold. No arrests were made or citations issued.
Help is available for community members struggling from a mental health crisis and/or suicidal thoughts. Suicide is preventable.
Call or text 988, or chat online at www.988lifeline.org/chat . It’s the new way to connect with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline where you will find confidential support for anyone who is in suicidal crisis or mental health related distress. More information is available here: https://www.linesforlife.org/
Here’s a recent short video about 988: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/37trIZ1qVdw
Also, the Multnomah County Mental Health Call Center is available 24 hours a day at 503-988-4888.
https://www.multco.us/behavioral-health/mental-health-crisis-intervention
If you or someone you know is in mental health crisis, please visit Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare's Urgent Walk-In Clinic. The clinic is located at 4212 Southeast Division Street and is open from 7am to 10:30pm, 7 days a week. Services are free and available to individuals of all ages.
Information about the Portland Police Bureau's Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) and additional resources can be found by visiting http://portlandoregon.gov/police/bhu .
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