Suspect reaches speeds of up to 120 mph in Monday night pursuit
By Griffin Beach on Tuesday, May 6th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
UMATILLA COUNTY – A vehicle pursuit reached speeds of up to 120 mph Monday night.
According to the Umatilla Tribal Police Department (UTPD) at approximately 6:30 p.m. a silver 2011 BMW heading southbound on Oregon Highway 11 at approximately mile post 9 passed a northbound UTPD officer at a radar confirmed speed of 79 mph in a 55 mph zone. The officer turned southbound to initiate a traffic stop, and while attempting to catch up with the suspect recorded the BMW’s speed at 85 mph. The suspect was also observed passing a vehicle in a no-passing zone.
The suspect turned westbound onto Oregon Highway 335 and slowed his speed, but when the officer turned onto the highway behind him the suspect accelerated away. The officer then initiated a pursuit noting there was no other traffic on the road. The pursuit continued on Oregon Highway 335, and then on to Helix Highway through Helix, North Juniper Canyon Road, South Juniper Canyon Road, Kings Corner Road and Oregon Highway 334.
The pursuit lasted for approximately 25 minutes, and at one point the suspect’s speed reached 120 mph.
The officer terminated the pursuit on Oregon Highway 334, but when the pursuit was terminated the officer observed the suspect’s vehicle coming to a stop on Oregon Highway 37 at mile post 27 approximately a mile away from the officers location. The vehicle had apparently become disabled and was unable to move further.
Assisted by the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office the officer approached the vehicle and took the driver, a 17-year-old juvenile, and an 18-year-old passenger into custody. The driver was arrested and transported to the Walla Walla Juvenile Detention Center on charges of reckless driving, felony attempt to elude/flee and recklessly endangering another. The passenger was interviewed and released.
Oregon State Police and the Pendleton Police Department also assisted.
