Troopers Getting Big Numbers

Troopers getting big numbers

Portlander clocked at 121 mph near Arlington

Decongested freeways bring full throttle

Oregon State Police clocked a Portland man driving 121 miles per hour on Highway 84 near Arlington on Wednesday evening in a Mercedes C300.

And that kind of speed is becoming more common since the Covid-19 outbreak and the advent of decongested highways, according to Oregon State Police.

Oregon State Police Trooper Johnathon Swiger wrote the following account of the speeding and reckless driving he observed on Wednesday.

“ At approximately 8:54 PM, I was driving eastbound on I-84 at milepost 134 when I observed a speeding vehicle traveling westbound. I briefly checked the vehicle at 116 MPH with front radar. After the vehicle passed me, I checked it again with rear radar at 121 MPH. This area is a posted 55 MPH work zone, and there were workers in the area. I advised dispatch over the radio of the vehicle and it's speed. Deputy Redden-Pickett with the Gilliam County Sheriff's Office was able to stop the vehicle at milepost 125. Deputy Redden-Pickett checked the vehicle at 122 mph at milepost 129.

Deputy Redden-Pickett detained the driver and following investigation issued him a criminal citation for reckless driving and violation citations for the speed, driving while suspended and driving uninsured. The citations were issued to Jad M. Kalach, 22, of Portland. Columbia Community Connection is attempting to contact Kalach via Facebook Messenger. His comments will be updated in this story if he chooses to comment.

OSP Lieutenant Les Kipper said the reckless driving, which carries a fine of $1,000 and a suspended license upon conviction, are on the rise.

“Our enforcement contacts are down, but we have seen an uptick in the speeds people are traveling,” Kipper said. “It’s pretty routine to stop people from driving in the 90s, but since the pandemic, we’ve seen a real increase in the higher speed numbers.”

“It’s not safe,” he said. “The speed limit is out there for a reason - to save lives. As speeds increase, the chances of serious injury or death do as well. Speeders are not only putting their own lives at risk, but the lives of others who are on the road.”