Drunk Driver Crashed into Power Pole Early This Morning, Resulting in Lost Power for Thousands of Portland Homes

The 25-year old driver fled the scene on foot, but then returned while police were searching for him.

Crash on Dec. 27, 2019. (Portland Police Bureau)

It's been a nasty holiday behind the wheel in Portland.

Prior to the two fatal crashes that occurred on the morning of Dec. 27, a driver crashed into a power pole around 2:45 a.m at the 5500 block of North Interstate Avenue and fled on foot, according to police.

He then came back to the scene and was arrested, the Portland Police Bureau said in a release. He's been identified as 25 year-old Alexander Ditchey and was issued a citation for reckless driving and issued a DUII.

Ditchey's crash resulted in thousands of Portlanders losing power early in the morning.

A photo of the pole and car provided by police shows a splintered wooden pole casing. The photo shows significant damage to the front of the vehicle.

Earlier today, two people died in Portland traffic.

One was a pedestrian who was struck and killed by a vehicle along Northeast 122nd Avenue at Northeast Halsey Street. The other was a driver who swerved into oncoming traffic on North Lombard St. and was pronounced dead when police arrived to the scene. Police said they suspect the deceased driver may have suffered a medical event that caused the accident.

Sophie Peel

Sophie Peel covers City Hall and neighborhoods.

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office.

Help us dig deeper.