World

Tow Truck Driver Seriously Injured By Hit-and-Run Driver on the Banfield (Photo)

Written by on January 30, 2023

January 29, 2023 11:39

A tow truck driver was sent to the hospital with serious injuries after he was struck outside of his vehicle this morning on the Banfield Freeway.

On Sunday, January 29, 2023 at 6:47a.m., an East Precinct officer, Portland Fire & Rescue, and AMR paramedics responded to a report of an injury crash on westbound I-84 between the Northeast 43rd Avenue exit and the overpass at Northeast Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard. When the officer arrived, he found a tow truck driver laying injured on the pavement in front of his truck. The officer learned that the driver had just finished loading a vehicle and was still outside of his truck when he was struck by passing vehicle. The suspect vehicle is also believed to be a tow truck. The suspect vehicle continued driving and has not been located.

The victim, a 27-year-old man, was transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, including a broken arm and a broken leg.

The suspect vehicle is described as a Ford tow truck with a wheel lift mechanism on the back. There are conflicting accounts of what color it was.

If anyone witnessed the crash, has video of the suspect truck, or has information about the driver involved, please e-mail crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 23-26728.

Photo descriptions:
1. The driver’s side of a flatbed tow truck with sideswipe damage on the right shoulder of westbound Banfield Freeway.
2. Closeup of a broken driver’s side mirror
3. A view of the pavement in the front of truck where the injured victim landed

###PPB###

*************