A passenger in a pickup driven by a 16-year-old boy received traumatic injuries during a rollover crash near Banks, Oregon late Sunday afternoon, after the driver struck a motorcycle as he allegedly tried to ram one of two motorcycles he had been following in what troopers described as “road rage”.
Oregon State Police responded to the accident scene in an unincorporated area of Washington County about 6:05 p.m. June 3. Originally, troopers said, two vehicles and two motorcycles were involved in the road rage incident in Banks -- a 1991 Ford F250 driven by the teenager, a VW Bug, and the motorcycles. At some point the VW Bug traveled away from the remaining motorists, leaving the Ford F250 following the motorcycles as they traveled west on Highway 26.
The unidentified 16-year-old driver from Cornelius rolled his pickup after allegedly ramming a motorcycle and arguing with the rider. His passenger was injured. - OSP photo
According to the OSP news release, the teen driver from Cornelius, Oregon alleged tried to ram a motorcycle driven by a 32-year old Gason resident, Delaney Vanloo, hitting the sissy bar on the back of the bike.
Vanloo maintained control of the motorcycle, and continued westbound with fellow motorcyclist Luke Polich, 34, of Beaverton. Polich’s 8-year-old stepdaughter was riding on the back of his bike.
Both motorcycle riders pulled over and stopped at the Dairy Queen on Highway 26 near Pihl road, troopers said, and the teen driver pulled in behind them. An argument ensued, and employees of the fast food restaurant called 911. The teen driving the pickup fled the scene before police arrived, ultimately turning off Highway 26, onto Pihl Road, then Pongratz Road.
The teenage driver rolled the pickup while on a sharp turn on Pongratz Road, collapsing the passenger side of the cab. An underage girl who was riding in the pickup was transported by ambulance to Emmanuel Hospital with “traumatic injuries”, troopers said.
The teenage driver was arrested for reckless driving, reckless endangering, and hit and run. He was also cited for careless driving, troopers said, adding that he will be referred to the Juvenile Department due to his age.