Three truck drivers helped Oregon State Police troopers capture a man they had been chasing for more than 50 miles, reported KPTV-TV in Beaverton. Troopers said they arrested 43-year-old Erwin Bartlett, of Chehalis, on Saturday afternoon on Interstate 84.
Police said Barlett's attempt to lose officers started in the Boardman area and ended near the John Day Dam, where the truck drivers blocked the westbound lanes of I-84. At around 1 p.m., officers tried to stop a red 2002 Ford Taurus that reportedly had been involved in a hit-and-run crash in Union County.
Instead of pulling over, troopers said, Bartlett accelerated to speeds of more than 100 mph on westbound I-84.
Truck drivers on the highway were alerted of the chase and over CB radios coordinated a rolling roadblock using their vehicles. As the drivers slowed their vehicles to less than 5 mph, Bartlett stopped his car in the middle of the interstate and fled on foot.
Bartlett was taken into custody a short time later and charged with felony attempt to elude in a vehicle and on foot, reckless endangerment of another person and driving under the influence of intoxicants.
Westbound I-84 was closed for about an hour during the vehicle blockage and foot chase.
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