Driver in car attack in Southeast Portland showed no terrorism, bias or political intent, police say

Investigators found no evidence of bias, terrorism or political motivation after a driver went on a rampage in southeast Portland on Monday, killing one and injuring nine others, police said Tuesday.

Police identified the deceased woman as Jean Gerich, 77, of Portland.

The driver, who has not been identified, remains hospitalized and is expected to be incarcerated after his release.

The man is suspected of hitting people and cars in a series of hit and run incidents that lasted 15 blocks on Monday afternoon. Gerich died in hospital hours later, and nine more were to survive.

Police did not specify what type of treatment or assessment the driver was receiving.

Police said the first report of an erratic driver came around noon, with the caller reporting the driver was accelerating and narrowly avoiding hitting a pedestrian. About an hour later, police received a hit-and-run report at 33rd Avenue and Pine Street near Laurelhurst Park.

Constable Derek Carmon, a spokesperson for the agency, said police soon began to receive further calls about the same driver hitting other pedestrians and cars.

Carmon said the driver, who was in a silver Honda Element, struck people and cars from 33rd to 18th Avenue along Stark, Pine, Washington and Belmont streets, occasionally reaching speeds of up to 60 mph, according to witnesses.

The driver eventually crashed his SUV and attempted to flee the scene, but Carmon said a group of passers-by ran after him and surrounded him until police arrived.

The fatal accident unfolded in a gruesome sequence described by a man scheduled to meet the woman who was killed.

Larry Wolfe told The Oregonian / OregonLive he saw the woman, who was around 70, get hit by a driver and scream. He said he started walking towards her, then saw the driver come back and hit her again. The driver then turned around and the car dragged the woman some distance, Wolfe said.

Police said on Tuesday the motive for the attack was unclear.

“The detectives could not find any evidence that this was an act of terrorism. Detectives have not found any indicators of bias and do not believe it is politically motivated, ”officials said in a statement. “Detectives say the driver’s actions showed intent to hit and injure people.”

Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell acknowledged the consequences of the carnage on the community and thanked passers-by who intervened to help apprehend the suspect after his crash and attempted escape.

“The multiple hit and run crashes committed yesterday by the same suspect have been traumatic for our community,” Lovell said in a statement. “Thank you to the many members of the community who responded to help the victims and alert the police to the suspect. We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation so that the person involved can be held responsible for these senseless acts of violence. “

– Jim Ryan and the staff at the Oregonian / OregonLive