Citizen follows reckless Driver on I-84; Carson man arrested on DUI

The Dalles, Ore., March 26, 2025 — An observant citizen reported a reckless driver in a red pickup towing a trailer and weaving in and out of traffic at high speeds, leading to the arrest of a Carson, Wash. man on charges of reckless driving, according to the Oregon State Police.

The driver was reported eastbound on Interstate 84 at milepost 69 on Monday, March 24 at about 3:30 p.m.

He was driving aggressively, cutting in and out of traffic , using his cell phone, and nearly sideswiping other vehicles and the guardrail, the witness told dispatchers.

The witness followed the vehicle as it passed by The Dalles.

An Oregon State Trooper then located a vehicle near Celilo and observed it traveling at 83 mph, making unsafe lane changes without signaling, and nearly losing control of the trailer. The trooper activated emergency lights, but the driver continued driving erratically, veering onto the shoulder and almost crashing before finally being stopped. The driver was in a red GMC Sierra Pickup towing a trailer.

Nathan D. Wilson, 49, of Carson, Wash., was arrested for reckless driving. A subsequent breath test showed his blood alcohol content at .09%, above the legal limit of .08%. The vehicle was towed by Simcoe Towing to Biggs, and Wilson was lodged at the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility jail.

Authorities credit the witness’ vigilance in reporting the incident and preventing a potentially dangerous situation.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Hood River Officer injured when man driving Land Rover flees after traffic stop

By Tom Peterson

Hood River, Ore., March 17, 2025 — A 26-year-old Washington man is accused of injuring a Hood River Police officer when he sped away from being stopped, slamming the officers elbow and fingers in the driver’s door as the officer attempted to remove him from the vehicle on Sunday evening, March 16.

Hood River Police Sgt. Emelike Delancy. He was the 2021 DUII Enforcement Officer of the year in Oregon.

Hood River Police Sgt. Emelike Delancy had pulled the vehicle over at milepost 61 on Interstate at 8:48 p.m. when the altercation occurred. The driver had warrants for his arrest and Delancy was attempting to get him out of the vehicle to take him into custody. 

The driver's door was open at that point.

Instead of surrendering, the driver hit the gas pedal, slamming the driver door and hitting Delancy. The dirver then fled westbound on I-84 from Hood River, prompting a pursuit involving the Oregon State Police.

A state trooper successfully deployed spike strips at milepost 28, disabling the vehicle. The driver stopped and was taken into custody without further incident.

Garrett Michael Comer, 26, of Everett, Washington

Authorities identified the driver as Garrett Michael Comer, 26, of Everett, Washington. The passenger was identified as Crystal Monique Gomez, 29, of Spanaway, Washington.

In 2015, Comer pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery for a heist at a south Everett marijuana business, according to the Everett Herald. Net. He was a juvenile at the time but was convicted as an adult and sentenced to 3 1/2 years.

The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation.

Hood River Police Lt. Don Cheli said Sgt. Delancy was checked out at the emergency room in Hood River and was cleared to return to duty.

Cheli thanked OSP, and the Hood River Sheriff’s Department and all other assisting agencies in the case.

The Driver, Comer, was arrested and taken to NORCOR Jail in The Dalles. 

Comer remained in jail this afternoon on second-degree assault, assault of a public safety officer, attempt to elude, driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, and several other allegations. 

His bail was set at $10,000. 

“This happens once in a while,” Cheli said of injuries caused by people fleeing a traffic stop. “While it is rare, for sure.”

Maupin man killed when pickup flips near Grass Valley

The Dalles, Ore. March 12, 2025 — A Maupin man was killed on Tuesday, March 11, when his Ford F150 left the roadway, went into a ditch, struck a culvert and flipped onto its roof, according to Oregon State Police.

Timothy Crafard, 72, of Maupin was driving westbound on Highway 216 on Juniper Flat. He was at milepost 23 west of Maupin when his vehicle left the highway shortly before 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11.

“The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Ford F150, operated by Samuel Timothy Crafard (72) of Maupin, left the roadway into the westbound ditch, struck a culvert, and flipped onto its roof,” the report states.

The Crafard was declared deceased at the scene.

A passenger of the Ford, Carol Ann Workman, 78, of Maupin, suffered reported minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital.

The highway was impacted for approximately three hours during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Juniper Flat Rural Fire District, Wasco County Sheriff's Office, and ODOT.

Semi driven by TD Man hits 21-year-old who was crossing Hwy. 97 in dark near Madras

From Oregon State Police:

Jefferson County, Ore., 9 Jan. 9 2025- On Thursday, January 9, 2025, at 11:59 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian crash on Highway 97, near milepost 85, in Jefferson County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Kenworth commercial motor vehicle and trailer, operated by Robert Allen Bowman (65) of The Dalles, struck a pedestrian, Keanu Rhune Blumenthal (21) of Carson City (NV), who was crossing the highway.

The pedestrian (Blumenthal) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Kenworth (Bowman) was not injured.

The highway was impacted for approximately two hours during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.