DEPUTY STRUCK AND INJURED BY IMPAIRED DRIVER

Washington Co. Sheriff's Office

On Saturday, September 4, 2021, at 2:53 a.m., two deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office were completing a DUII investigation on SW 185^th Avenue, just north of SW Blanton Street, in the community of Aloha. They arrested an adult female suspect and one deputy was placing her in the back seat of the patrol car when the patrol car was struck from behind by a truck traveling at a high rate of speed.

One deputy was able to get out of the path of the truck, but the other was struck and thrown to the ground about six feet away. She was treated at the scene by Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue and Metro West Ambulance and transported by ground ambulance to a local trauma center. The female adult in custody was not injured and later provided a breath sample which exceeded the legal limit.

Beaverton Police officers immediately responded and began investigating the crash involving our deputy. The adult male driver of the truck was arrested. [Please contact the Beaverton Police Department for information related to that ongoing criminal investigation.] 

The injured deputy has been employed by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for only 14 months, but previously worked in corrections in another state. She also serves her country as a member of the United States Army National Guard. The deputy has now been released from the hospital and is recovering at home. She has asked for privacy. As such, we will not be identifying her at this time. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is touched by the outpouring of community support and concern for our deputy. 

This crash is a stark reminder of the dangers of impaired driving. Last night and throughout this holiday weekend, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with other local and state law enforcement agencies in a targeted DUII enforcement mission. [For more information, see our media release from yesterday.] Deputies involved in that mission will be available for media interviews tonight starting at 8:45 p.m.    

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to keeping impaired drivers off the road. As part of our commitment, all of our patrol deputies underwent refresher training in DUII enforcement last month. Recently, two of our deputies were recognized for their excellence in the field by the Oregon DUII Multi-Disciplinary Training Task Force. One was recognized as the 2020 DUII Enforcement Officer of the Year. Another deputy was recognized as the 2020 Drug Recognition Expert of the year. More information will be provided tomorrow on our social media.