Multnomah County, OR – A dangerous high-speed incident that began on Interstate 84 ended with a crash and arrest late Thursday night in Portland’s Lloyd District, prompting renewed warnings from law enforcement about reckless driving in urban areas.
According to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, TriMet’s Transit Police Division (TPD) arrested a 49-year-old man after officers observed two vehicles traveling at extreme speeds westbound on I-84 at approximately 11 p.m. Thursday. One vehicle was estimated to be traveling more than 100 miles per hour, while another reportedly approached speeds near 120 mph.
Transit Police initiated a traffic stop after the second vehicle exited at Lloyd Center. The driver initially stopped near Northeast 13th Avenue and Holladay Street and appeared cooperative, but officers observed behavior they said raised safety concerns.
As a precaution, officers deployed a tire deflation device. Just before being asked to step out of the vehicle, the driver allegedly fled. The device functioned as designed, allowing a controlled release of air once the vehicle moved.
Police did not pursue but alerted dispatch and nearby officers. Moments later, the vehicle struck the center median near the well-known Lloyd District clock, causing significant damage to the structure, nearby planter boxes, and a parked, unoccupied vehicle. Investigators believe the car was still traveling well above the posted speed limit at the time of impact.
The driver, identified as Steven Roll, allegedly attempted to run from the scene but was taken into custody without further incident. He was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Roll was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on multiple charges, including reckless driving, attempting to elude police, DUII, reckless endangerment, forgery-related charges, and possession of methamphetamine. Charges are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
“This incident demonstrates how extreme speeding and reckless driving in an urban area can put innocent bystanders at great risk,” said Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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