Second alleged steering wheel crank & crash suspected in 8 months
By Joshuah Albert and Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore. March 27, 2025 — A Hood River man who was a passenger in an eastbound vehicle near Mosier on Interstate 84 was arrested Tuesday morning after allegedly assaulting a woman and grabbing the steering wheel which caused the car to crash, according to Oregon State Police.
Officials say such incidents are rare, but at the same time this is the second time for this to allegedly occur on the Interstate between The Dalles and Hood River in 8 months.
“You’ve mentioned the only two I can ever think of in last year, and I have difficulty of thinking of any other ones than those two,” said veteran OSP Sgt. Mark Jubitz. “This is not super common, but it happens occasionally.”
On Tuesday, March 25 a Trooper responded to a single-vehicle crash near milepost 68 just before noon. During the investigation, the female driver told officers she and her male passenger were in a relationship and had gotten into a physical altercation while driving.
She told police the man assaulted her and grabbed the steering wheel, causing the vehicle to crash.
The passenger, 19-year-old Azareel J. Reyes-Zamora of Hood River, was arrested on charges of fourth-degree assault and reckless driving. He was medically cleared and lodged at NORCOR.
The driver was transported to Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital for injuries sustained in the crash.
The vehicle, a black Chevrolet Impala, was towed from the scene by Guzman Brothers Towing.
Second Time in 8 Months
Back on August 22, 2024 a similar wreck occurred, according to OSP reports.
Oregon State Police arrested a 54-year-old woman after it was alleged she was in a verbal fight with the driver and yanked on the steering wheel causing the Dodge Charger they were riding into to roll over on Interstate 84 near Rowena.
“The driver and the passenger were in a verbal dispute when the passenger grabbed the steering wheel and cranked it to the right,” the report states. “The passenger denied it and claimed the driver was traveling 95MPH and attempted to get her phone, and it caused the crash. She claimed she filmed the driver on her phone. She allowed a search and there was no video of the incident. A witness to the crash stated the Dodge was traveling at around 75MPH and not 95MPH. The road evidence suggested that the vehicle had a rapid and sudden turn, collaborating the driver’s statement.”
The passenger Carolyn Denice Hailes, no address listed, was arrested for Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangerment.
“The time and place to argue is not probably in the vehicle driving down the road,” Jubitz added. “Pull over and have a space to express feelings. Don’t do it in a vehicle where people feel they are cornered.”
