KPTV Portland: Police: Drunken Bicyclist Caused Hwy Closure
POSTED: 6:18 am PST March 4, 2010
UPDATED: 6:32 am PST March 4, 2010
ESTACADA, Ore. — An investigation into what was initially a report Wednesday of an unconscious person laying on Highway 224 has led to a pending charge of bicycling under the influence, state police said.
Estacada firefighters and state police were called to the incident on Highway 224 at about 9:17 p.m. Fire crews arrived and found 43-year-old Timothy Crawford in the westbound lane near the fog line next to a bicycle, troopers said.
While the initial report to police was a pedestrian struck by a car, state trooper Ryan Tellier said there was no evidence Crawford was hit. Instead, it appeared Crawford simply crashed his bicycle, police said.
Tellier said Crawford wasn’t wearing a helmet and his bicycle had no lighting equipment.
A LifeFlight helicopter was called to the scene and Crawford was rushed to Legacy Emanuel Hospital. Doctors found no significant injuries and a preliminary blood test showed Crawford had consumed alcohol earlier in the evening, police said.
The highway was closed for about 90 minutes to allow for the LifeFlight helicopter to land.
Tellier cited Crawford to appear in Clackamas County Circuit Court on a charge of bicycling under the influence of intoxicants.
