Washington County Sheriffs seek reckless driver who hit and injured bicycle rider
Posted by Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor) on May 14th, 2019 at 9:24 am
(Video of suspect taken by a witness and released by Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office)
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office needs help finding reckless driver who hit an innocent person, gave them the finger, then fled the scene. The victim was on a bicycle and had stopped on the side of the road to check his map.
The crash happened Saturday (5/11) around 2:00 pm on NW Hillside Road in unincorporated Washington County, southwest of Banks.
Here’s more from the official statement:
“According to witness reports, an unidentified man was driving a newer Mercedes convertible around 2:00 p.m. on NW Hillside Road when he hit a bicyclist stopped on the shoulder. The victim was checking his map when the unidentified driver hit him somewhere near the intersection with NW Clapshaw Hill Road. The victim was knocked to the ground, his clothing torn and was bleeding from the leg. The suspect drove off, making no attempt to stop and check on him, and gave the bicyclist ‘the finger’ as he drove off.”
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The Sheriff’s Office says the suspect was seen by other witnesses driving recklessly, swerving into oncoming lanes of traffic. “A motorcyclist told deputies he was almost run off the road and nearly hit by the same driver on NW Old Clapshaw Hill Road,” the statement reads.
The video above of the suspect vehicle was taken by one of the witnesses.
Please be on the lookout for a white man in his 60 wearing a baseball cap with a thick “Tom Selleck mustache” driving a newer, champagne-colored Mercedes convertible.
Anyone with information about this vehicle or driver is asked to contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office by calling non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111.
UPDATE, 5/16: The suspect, 55-year-old William Offinga, has been arrested and booked into the Washington County Jail on one count of reckless driving and one count of felony hit and run.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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***Comment deleted by moderator***
Recommendedis that really necessary to say dwk? we get it.. but what good does that do in the larger scheme of things?
RecommendedThe real question should be, did he have California plates? (sorry, sorry!)
RecommendedAhem, Magnum is from Hawaii.
RecommendedActually he was from Detroit, hence the Tigers cap, then Virginia… Wound up in Hawaii via the Navy.
RecommendedThanks to the victim and witnesses for reporting this – so sorry this happened to you. Hopefully they can find this a-hole — can’t be that many people who would buy a car in that godawful champagne color.
RecommendedI you think that the MAGA culture is a problem for people on bikes and everyone else..
RecommendedSorry.
The problem is more with the politics of car culture and entitlement, not MAGA culture IMO. Been buzzed by nearly the same number of Prius’ and Legacy wagons as jacked trucks out in Wa. Co.
But if you think it would help – maybe for country rides someone should re-print replica Tour de Trump leaders jerseys. It has the Trump name large on front and rear BUT is also hot Rapha Style neon pink (I kid you not).
https://amp.businessinsider.com/images/55809677ecad0423264c0fab-750-983.jpg
RecommendedMy experience as of late in Portland/Beaverton is that drivers of luxury autos (BMW, Audi, Lexus, etc) and Prius’ have been way more a-holey than the stereoptypical-MAGA-big truck drivers.
RecommendedCase in point. Saw a ton of trucks in downtown yesterday due to the massive amount of construction. No issues. Descending a hill in the rain a newer model Acura passes me on the right and then immediately cuts me off to get to a parking spot on the left. I guess that parking spot was more important than me getting home safely. Luckily, I was already braking to get some moisture off the wheels “just in case.”
RecommendedYup. I’ve said it before: Republicans do not have a monopoly on car heads.
RecommendedSpeaking of republicans, From the description ( especially the age and bushy mustache) I think I figured out the culprit. It is John Bolton ( Trumps National Security Advisor) out for a holiday in Wine Country . Weary of threatening and intimidating countries around the world, to no avail, he decided to take out his temper on innocent Washington County cyclists.
RecommendedDo you think that everyone whole voted for Trump espouses MAGA culture (whatever that is). Some people voted for him simply because he’s not a Democrat.
RecommendedWhere was voting mentioned anywhere here? … Defensive much?
RecommendedMoRG being a trumpie definitely provides motivation for his antisocial behavior. Sad.
RecommendedPlease cut out the personal attacks. You’ve been doing it more frequently lately. Please stop.
RecommendedKeep on attacking every comment on every topic on this blog though, that’s totally appropriate.
RecommendedNo. Personal attacks are not appropriate. Period.
Recommended“Some people voted for him simply because he’s not a Democrat” and this is why we have the country we deserve today.
RecommendedGetting facts and accurate descriptions out there is one thing, but allowing stereotyping about political affiliations or whatever is pretty lame. Jonathan I know you work hard to keep this place as sane as possible but the moderation could use some work, and I know that you censor here and there. Sorry not trying to agitate you.
RecommendedWhat are you trying to say?
RecommendedHey excellent stereotyping! Because we know there is no such thing as a wealthy Democrat!
RecommendedStereotypes are for a reason…
RecommendedJ. Maus himself says he rides with an American Flag on his bike in the country.
Why would that be?
What do wealthy democrats have to do with this?
Magnum P.I. gone Bad. Sounds like we need to send in the” A team” to catch this criminal.
RecommendedHeh. And maybe MacGyver could do a little “troubleshooting” and get to the bottom of things.
RecommendedThis just gives all Mercedes drivers a bad name.
RecommendedSounds like another insecure little boy suffering from entitlement syndrome. He hates cyclists to the point he tries to murder a stranger because they are going happily though their life without the need to prove there manhood by driving a more expensive car.
The finger should be enough to send him to prison for attempted murder, but since he used a car I suspect he will be allowed plead to a traffic infraction.
Someone knows who this is. Do they have the decency to do the right thing?
RecommendedThe question I have is, why are the police interested in this one case while ignoring the vast majority of drivers who act like this?
RecommendedVideo evidence. Also, WA county vs Multnomah?
RecommendedAlso, multiple reports.
RecommendedThis guy would be an ordinary commuter on my morning ride from the Goose Hollow Max Station to North Portland, and the cops would not be interested in him. But believe it or not out in Washington County (where I live), they actually enforce traffic laws. Recently I saw a Washington County Sheriff pull up and direct a landscaping crew to clean up the bike lane where they had blown sticks, leaves and grass.
RecommendedBecause it is the Washington County Sheriff’s office, not the Portland Police Bureau.
RecommendedMaybe it’s also the “hit and run” crime committed, and not just reckless driving. Sounds like the dude was drunk to me.
RecommendedLikely because he was also driving recklessly around other vehicles. Reckless driving around cyclists is just an accepted risk in the eyes of law enforcement… but endanger someone else in their metal box?! Now we have a problem.
Also, the hit and run.
Recommended>>> why are the police interested in this one case while ignoring the vast majority of drivers who act like this? <<<
Because the vast majority of drivers do not act like this. From the description, this guy committed a deliberate, unprovoked assault.
RecommendedNice work deliberately misstating what was said just so you could force an argument. Next.
Recommended“and gave the bicyclist ‘the finger’ as he drove off.”
I am not a DA, but I think I a jury would take this to mean it was deliberate.
RecommendedIt’s got a good beat and you can dance to it.
RecommendedPaul’s Boutique is severely underrated.
RecommendedUnderrated? It went double platinum twenty years ago and regularly appears on various Greatest Albums lists..
RecommendedIt was underrated when it first came out, but an obvious classic now.
RecommendedI was out very near there on Kansas City Rd. own Sat. just 90 minutes or so after this incident. Nothing happened to me luckily, but it sticks in my mind that I saw something that left me with the impression “that person is driving like *hit with that nice a car” but nothing that made me note the make of car or a big ‘stache involved. The unusual thing is that the one report from the motorcyclist was on OLD Clapshaw Hill, which is narrow and gravel, if he was driving recklessly there I guess he doesn’t really care about his display of wealth.
If you’re on Strada and want to give David some much deserved kudos for a tough day and then a tough 20 mile ride home after: https://www.strava.com/activities/2360096117
And mainstream story (that is sympathetic!) with interview https://www.kgw.com/article/news/crime/hit-and-run-driver-strikes-bicyclist-flips-him-off-in-washington-county-deputies-say/283-47a510b3-f5bf-4886-a39e-4d3b43def127
RecommendedThe real question is whether or not they’ll go the extra step to get cell-phone tracking data from the major carriers to actually figure out who this is. It’s time consuming, but it’s completely data possible. There’s a finite number of people out there in that area at that time. Get the list from the carriers. Cross reference with who owns that type of vehicle.
RecommendedIs that legal without a warrant? I sure hope not.
RecommendedNo.
Recommendedhttps://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/22/us/politics/supreme-court-warrants-cell-phone-privacy.html
As a side note, isn’t it neat how we have passing zones on roads with no shoulders?? Where are bicyclists supposed to go when a car coming directly towards them?
I was almost vaporized on Scotch Church Rd in the same general vicinity (here: https://tinyurl.com/yxg3l6o3) by a driver making a pass in the opposite direction and I only escaped by skidding off into the ditch. Can’t imagine what would have happened to me at my 20mph plus the driver’s 60mph.
I suggested to the County that passing lanes shouldn’t be allowed on roads where there is no shoulder, but they indicated that state and Federal guidelines do not even consider bicyclists when determining passing zones so there’s nothing they can do about it.
I’m curious whether the road where this happened has a wide enough shoulder that the cyclist could have been off the road more, or if they would have been squeezed up against the fog line like I was.
RecommendedAccording to the article, the bicyclist was stopped on the shoulder. The driver targeted the cyclist.
RecommendedWhat does the existence of a passing zone have to do with any of this? Do you think that all roads should have a double yellow stripe and be posted NO PASSING unless they have a shoulder? Do you think that would be obeyed?
It happened aproximately here: https://tinyurl.com/y6b7eq9w
This is a VERY rural area orders of magnitude more quiet that the WAZE-enabled cut through routes near the highways like Scotch Church is. Clapshaw Hill, even the paved newer road doesn’t even have painted center-line let alone shoulders. But it is a blind corner with a steep drop-off on Hillside. I imagine what happened was the a-hole took the left turn too wide at too much speed onto Hillside and clipped David. Luckily he was standing off on the unpaved shoulder instead of in the lane or this would have been a much sadder story.
Expecting all shoulder-less roads to be non-passing is too much to ask honestly. Most roads in the Tualatin Valley are straight, flat old farm roads. They (should) have plenty of visibility for passing carefully at the speeds they were designed for rural traffic 50-70-100 years ago. It’s the idiots treating them like secondary freeways nowadays that are the problem. Automatic speed enforcement would be a much more productive means to calming them. Also, at least our county roads department is somewhat progressive, adding shoulders to many high volume rural roads when they get repaved, like Verboort, River Rd., Golf Course Rd. etc, and the traffic slowing roundabouts at intersections they’ve been installing frequently. Route planning apps that rely on actual cycling trip data like Komoot, Strava heat maps and Garmin Connect can help you find alternate routes away from the busiest streets.
RecommendedIn my riding which is often on roads like this drivers do not consider on coming cyclists at all when passing other vehicles, farm equipment, or most commonly other cyclists. So the narrative of there being good sightlines is meaningless when drivers just flat out don’t care. What should be more heavily enforced is no passing of cyclists across double yellow centerlines.
RecommendedI agree, some careless drivers do not consider cyclists as oncoming traffic to check for when passing either a car or another cyclist (though a number do pass slowly and with caution after checking it’s clear). In the Oregon Safe Passing law though they are required to do so and any act of passing that results in an injury collision is considered prima facie evidence of their recklessness. This applies whether there is a double solid, a dashed or even no centerline.
Regardless, the same law does make it clear that with that responsibility it is NOT specifically unlawful to pass a cyclist in a double-yellow striped zone, just not a motor vehicle. So what you’re asking for isn’t enforceable currently if there is no collision.
From Ray Thomas:
“…the law does not specifically prohibit passing a rider or group of riders in a no passing zone; instead it attempts to hold a driver responsible for an attempt to pass in a no-passing zone which results in an injury collision, either by the driver failing to yield to oncoming traffic or driving too close to the persons on bicycles.”
https://bikeportland.org/2014/01/06/get-legal-with-ray-thomas-oregons-safe-passing-law-explained-99506
RecommendedPassing on rural 2 lane roads is normal for people who drive rural two lane roads. You don’t need to follow the horse or the tractor for miles. The problem comes up when you have people who feel entitled to drive at their desired speed and are unaccustomed to driving on two lane roads. If there is another vehicle going slower than they want to go they just use the other lane to go around. It never occurs to them that the other lane is not for their exclusive use.
I had four drivers pass us Sunday when there was oncoming traffic and another Monday morning when I was doing 25 on a residential street. This seams to be a problem in rural areas near large american cities. I have not had this problem in truly rural areas or riding in Europe.
RecommendedI didn’t ask the engineer if they would make all-shoulderless roads to be non-passing; I asked whether the passing zone in that location on Scotch Church was necessary, considering that it’s only 400 yards long and sitting in between a roundabout and a signaled intersection, and it is heavily used by cyclists to go east-west. One less cyclist than before, though. I won’t ride it anymore.
RecommendedWhat’s the difference between that driver and a porcupine?
One’s a prick, and the other is a porcupine.
I hope he rots in jail when they catch him.
Recommended“It is unknown why the man was completely cloaked in 80s signifiers.”
RecommendedGot him!
https://www.kgw.com/article/news/crime/hit-and-run-driver-who-struck-bicyclist-flipped-him-off-arrested-near-forest-grove-deputies-say/283-47a510b3-f5bf-4886-a39e-4d3b43def127
RecommendedLots of fun Trump memes on his FB page. Cheers to those who guessed correctly.
RecommendedYeah, his FB page is a real treat, isn’t it?
RecommendedMy original post was deleted after it was presumed to be “political”..
RecommendedThis is the problem in this era, if the media (and this is the media) just ignores this problem they normalize what is happening.
This is not political, it is real and it is a threat.
UPDATE, 5/16: The suspect, 55-year-old William Offinga, has been arrested and booked into the Washington County Jail on one count of reckless driving and one count of felony hit and run.
RecommendedWow. Now there’s one aspect of traffic law that actually might make sense: you can bully and threaten and harass and intimidate, then take off and it’s seemingly just a big shrug and an “oh, well”. BUT if you actually make contact with somebody, and then take off—felony. As long as they can catch you, which in this case it looks like they did.
Nice job, WashCo. Sheriff!
RecommendedMenacing is a thing too though. It’s the misdemeanor in between “nothing” and “felony.” No physical contact needed: https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/163.190
RecommendedI suspect proving menacing in a driving situation is difficult. Did that driver menace me, or did she just pass me a little closer than I’m comfortable with?
With hit-and-run, there is a more objective definition (driver made contact, and did not stop) and often concrete evidence of what happened (perhaps a smashed car mirror in this case).
Recommended