A Salem man was arrested Monday morning after stealing a car and crashing near Silverton, before getting away in another vehicle — only to collide with a utility pole 10 minutes down the road.
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again?
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Bruce Lee Wilson, 46, was the driver in a single-vehicle crash involving a 1999 Honda Accord in the 2600 block of Cascade Highway just before 8 a.m.
Deputies were on the way to the scene when new reports came in that the suspect had stolen a 2001 Ford F-250 of a Good Samaritan who had stopped to check on them.
Police located the stolen pickup on Cascade Highway near Tree Haven Road NE, where the suspect nearly struck an oncoming patrol car and forced them off the road.
Deputies then lost sight of the vehicle, but were notified by the Stayton Police Department approximately 10 minutes later that Wilson had crashed again — this time, near Scio High School in Linn County.
During the crash, the Ford knocked down power lines and caught on fire. Stayton Police were able to detain Wilson until deputies arrived.
After further investigation, deputies learned the 1999 Honda from the first crash had been stolen earlier in the morning in Salem and had not yet been reported.
Wilson was taken to a local hospital to be treated for minor injuries before being lodged at the Marion County Jail. He faces two counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, attempting to elude a police officer, reckless driving and attempted assault in the second degree.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Stayton Police Department, Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Silverton Fire District, Scio Rural Fire Protection District and Santiam Memorial Ambulance.
