EUGENE, Ore. – A 27-year-old man faces multiple charges after police say he drove recklessly through Eugene, nearly hitting a person in a crosswalk and leading officers on a chase, according to the Eugene Police Department.
EPD officials said a housing support officer spotted a Toyota Camry accelerating erratically at the intersection of West 7th Avenue and Garfield Street on March 24. The driver skidded the tires and lurched forward before stopping abruptly at the red light around 3:29 p.m. When the light turned green, a person was crossing in the crosswalk. Police say the driver accelerated forward, spinning the back wheels on the wet pavement but didn’t hit the person. The Toyota continued east on West 7th Avenue with its left turn signal on. The car drifted and almost hit a truck stopped in traffic. The officer tried to pull the driver over, but the vehicle drifted and accelerated, spinning its tires. Police turned on the siren and pursued the Toyota, which was swerving within its own lane.
The driver, identified as Francisco Cristobal Manuel, finally stopped on West 5th Avenue and Polk Street. Officers took him into custody after he failed to obey commands and dropped his hands into his lap…