A Multnomah County Sheriff’s Deputy’s vehicle was struck by a drunk driver while conducting a traffic stop on the eastbound I-84 at Northeast Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard, as reported by the Portland Police Bureau. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening, and the deputy was inside the vehicle at the time of the crash. They were using the vehicle’s public address system to safely guide the stopped driver to a safer location when a 2018 Jeep Compass SUV collided into the patrol Chevrolet Tahoe SUV from the rear.
The deputy and the driver of the Jeep, identified as Jose Juan Alvarez, were both transported to the hospital with injuries that were not considered serious. Officers from various divisions of the PPB and MCSO, alongside Emergency Medical Services, quickly to respond to the scene. It was determined soon after that the driver of the Jeep was impaired by alcohol at the time of the incident. According to the Portland Police, Jose Juan Alvarez faces charges including Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants.
The crash prompted the closure of eastbound lanes on Interstate 84, with the Oregon Department of Transportation issuing a public alert about the road blockage. Fortunately, the freeway was able to be reopened by 11:30 p.m. the same night. Debris from the collision and the heavy damage to both vehicles involved were cleared off the freeway…