PHOTO COURTESY OF OSP
An Oregon man is in custody after colliding with an Oregon State Police trooper from the Hermiston area during a high-speed chase on Wednesday.
According to the OSP, around 4:30 p.m., troopers from the Hermiston office responded to a welfare check on Interstate 84 near milepost 174, just east of Boardman. A 2008 Dodge Avenger was observed parked in the emergency vehicle turnaround at that location. Initial reports indicated that vehicle had been involved in a possible domestic disturbance.
An OSP trooper made contact with the lone occupant of the vehicle who, according to the OSP, became belligerent and fled the area at a high rate of speed. The trooper pursued the vehicle eastbound on I-84 reaching speeds of over 100 miles per hour. The suspect driver suddenly slammed on his brakes and attempted to cause a collision with the pursuing trooper. The trooper managed to slow considerably and make an evasive maneuver, but the vehicles still collided.
After the impact, the trooper utilized a tactical vehicle intervention which caused the Dodge to come to rest in the center median. The driver, Clint D. Cureton, 22, of Grand Ronde, was taken into custody without further incident.
Neither the trooper nor Cureton were injured in the collision which caused moderate damage to the vehicles. Cureton was lodged in the Umatilla County Jail on charges of reckless driving and felony attempt to elude in a vehicle. Cureton was also cited for exceeding the speed limit in excess of 100 mph and driving uninsured. Further charges are pending.
OSP was assisted by the Morrow County Sheriff’s Office.
