Alleged Car Thieves Crack Up Stolen Van on I-84, Blocking Both Eastbound Lanes

THE DALLES, Ore., Dec. 7, 2025 — A minivan allegedly stolen from the Salvation Army in Happy Valley, a suburb of Portland, turned into a Saturday-afternoon mess east of The Dalles, after the suspected thieves reportedly crashed the vehicle on Interstate 84.

According to the Oregon State Police, troopers responded around 3:37 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, to a single-vehicle crash involving a white 2023 Toyota Sienna near milepost 93 eastbound. Investigators said the Toyota was traveling east when, for unknown reasons, it allegedly left its lane, struck a guardrail and came to rest blocking both eastbound lanes.

Troopers later learned the vehicle had been reported stolen earlier in the day out of the Happy Valley area from the Salvation Army Cascade Division. The driver, identified as 51-year-old Jon Scott Paul of Happy Valley, allegedly sustained injuries in the wreck and was transported by ambulance to a Portland-area hospital.

Paul was cited and released for reckless driving and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. A passenger, identified as 26-year-old Joseph James Ybarra of Hillsboro, was uninjured and also cited and released for unauthorized use of a vehicle.

OSP said River’s Edge Towing removed the heavily damaged Toyota from the roadway.

No additional injuries were reported, and both men are scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 5, 2026. Authorities continue to investigate how the minivan taken from a Happy Valley nonprofit ended up wrecked in the Gorge.

CCCNews is awaiting comment from the Salvation Army and will update the story when that information becomes available.