Photo: Ford, Brad
A man was arrested on several charges after hitting six cars in a serious traffic crash that sent two people to the hospital.
On Wednesday, March 27TH at 5:36 PM, Tigard Police patrol officers responded to SW Pacific Highway near SW 78th for a traffic crash. Witnesses reported the driver of a pickup ran a red light, hit several cars and had been driving erratically before the crash. Officers learned the driver actually hit five cars along southbound 99W, and after going through the light at 78th, he hit a sixth car, wrecking both the car and his pickup.
Witnesses reported the driver, who was later identified as 43-year-old David Rudge, got out of his truck with a knife. An off-duty Lake Oswego police officer happened to be nearby and helped hold down Rudge, along with other witnesses, until Tigard Police arrived to safely take him into custody.
The two occupants of the sixth car that was hit were taken to the hospital with injuries that don’t appear to be life threatening. Southbound 99W was closed for a time due to the extent of the crime scene and crash investigation.
Officers learned Rudge had eluded police in Lake Oswego earlier in the day around 4 pm.. Rudge was taken to the Washington County Jail on a number of charges, including several vehicular assault charges, hit and run – vehicle injury charges, reckless driving, and several counts of criminal mischief for each of the damaged vehicles.