Trooper rams Mustang to prevent possible head-on collision on I-84 in The Dalles
By Tom Peterson
Oregon State Police Sergeant Jason Calloway only received minor injuries after intentionally crashing his cruiser into a Mustang on Friday, March 18, in a successful effort to prevent a chase suspect from driving the wrong way in Interstate 84 and possibly killing an innocent bystander.
The collision occurred around 6 p.m., according to the Oregon State Police Logs released this morning.
“Six concerned citizens reported the driver of a white 2019 Ford Mustang was driving erratically from MP 35 on I-84 eastbound in Multnomah County,” the log states. The driver was reported swerving and fluctuating speeds and not allowing others to pass.”
A Hood River County Sheriff's Deputy waited near MP 45 for the vehicle to pass. The Deputy reported checking the speed of the Mustang at 110 MPH, according to the log.
The Deputy said he was unable to catch up to the driver.
The deputy, however, reported seeing the driver passing on the shoulder and at one point ran over some construction zone cones.
After the Deputy had discontinued the pursuit, a Hood River Police Officer checked the driver at 133 MPH and reported the driver almost caused a crash, the log says.
Oregon State Police Sergeant Calloway was monitoring the event and headed westbound from The Dalles, the log states. The Sergeant got into position at Exit 70. The Mustang passed the Sergeant at a high rate of speed.
Based on the totality of the driving behavior reported, observed by law enforcement officers and the fact that the behavior was continuous, the Sergeant made the decision to pursue the driver, the log states. The driver ultimately exited at Exit 82 into The Dalles.
Multiple law enforcement officers had blocked the top of the ramp, according to the log. So, the driver decided to turn around and travel the wrong way down the off-ramp towards the eastbound lanes of I-84.
Sergeant Calloway heard the driver was traveling the wrong way as he was exiting at Exit 82, the log says.
The Sergeant saw the driver traveling the wrong way and had a tough decision to make.
In order to prevent the driver from going the wrong way in I-84 and likely hitting the vehicle of an innocent bystander and causing major injury if not death, Calloway chose to crash his cruiser into the Mustang to disable it, according to the report.
Both the cruiser and the Mustang were totaled in the collision.
Sergeant Calloway and the driver were transported to local area hospitals where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to the log. Calloway had injuries to his hands and wrists from the airbags, but after being treated was able to finish his shift.
The driver of the Mustang, Nicholas William Temkow, 46, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, was treated at Mid-Columbia Medical Center for broken ribs and lung issues.
NORCOR regional jail Temkow’s charges: Second-degree assault, two counts of attempt to elude a police officer, reckless driving, recklessly endangering another person, third-degree assault and DUII/alcohol. Temkow was being held on $18,600 bail this morning, March 21.
