Did you all see this? This is from the Oregonian:
OREGON CITY -- State trooper Matt Klare patrolled Interstate 205 early Wednesday watching for "high rollers" -- nighttime speeders who like empty roads. Shortly after midnight, he saw headlights getting brighter. He knew it would be a fast one.
The trooper clocked a 1992 Honda Civic headed north at 138 mph. Then the car sped up. A second reading locked in at 142 mph.
Not a record -- that would be 159 mph, set by a 1991 Acura in 1993 on the Astoria Megler Bridge -- but second place for the Oregon State Police.
As the speeding car wove in and out of traffic, Klare followed stealthily -- no lights or sirens. As he raced to catch up, Klare saw a streak of brake lights cut across lanes of traffic before exiting at Foster Road.
At the bottom of the ramp sat Ryan Allan Champ, 19, of Oregon City, waiting for a stoplight. The entire incident had lasted about a minute.
Klare flashed his lights and approached the vehicle.
"He told me he was going 140," Klare said of the driver, who Klare said was driving without insurance and with a suspended license.
According to Klare, Champ, who was alone in the vehicle, said he was trying to catch up to someone who had thrown a bottle at his car.
Champ was arrested on an accusation of reckless driving and taken to Clackamas County Jail. The charge carries a maximum penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine of $6,250, police said.
Champ did not return a phone message left with his mother, who declined to comment.
From 2000 to 2004, Oregon State Police cited 2,647 drivers for speeds of 100 mph or more. An additional 21,791 drivers were cited for speeds of 90 to 99 mph.
The Honda Civic had been customized with racing accessories including a special engine, seatbelt and car doors that lifted up, Klare said. Champ told police he had plans to race the car at Portland International Raceway.
Emily Tsao: 503-294-5928; [email protected]
OREGON CITY -- State trooper Matt Klare patrolled Interstate 205 early Wednesday watching for "high rollers" -- nighttime speeders who like empty roads. Shortly after midnight, he saw headlights getting brighter. He knew it would be a fast one.
The trooper clocked a 1992 Honda Civic headed north at 138 mph. Then the car sped up. A second reading locked in at 142 mph.
Not a record -- that would be 159 mph, set by a 1991 Acura in 1993 on the Astoria Megler Bridge -- but second place for the Oregon State Police.
As the speeding car wove in and out of traffic, Klare followed stealthily -- no lights or sirens. As he raced to catch up, Klare saw a streak of brake lights cut across lanes of traffic before exiting at Foster Road.
At the bottom of the ramp sat Ryan Allan Champ, 19, of Oregon City, waiting for a stoplight. The entire incident had lasted about a minute.
Klare flashed his lights and approached the vehicle.
"He told me he was going 140," Klare said of the driver, who Klare said was driving without insurance and with a suspended license.
According to Klare, Champ, who was alone in the vehicle, said he was trying to catch up to someone who had thrown a bottle at his car.
Champ was arrested on an accusation of reckless driving and taken to Clackamas County Jail. The charge carries a maximum penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine of $6,250, police said.
Champ did not return a phone message left with his mother, who declined to comment.
From 2000 to 2004, Oregon State Police cited 2,647 drivers for speeds of 100 mph or more. An additional 21,791 drivers were cited for speeds of 90 to 99 mph.
The Honda Civic had been customized with racing accessories including a special engine, seatbelt and car doors that lifted up, Klare said. Champ told police he had plans to race the car at Portland International Raceway.
Emily Tsao: 503-294-5928; [email protected]
