WILSONVILLE, Ore. - Traffic came to a temporary standstill on northbound Interstate 5 - from Woodburn to just north of Wilsonville - on Thanksgiving Day, as troopers swooped in for a reported hit and run.

State police arrested a Rainier-area man there shortly after noon. Troopers said they were following up on reports that the man allegedly collided with three separate vehicles on this area of Interstate 5 north of Salem. 

As of 4 p.m. Thursday, Oregon state police had interviewed one of the reported three drivers hit. Police are asking any other involved drivers to contact state police.

A witness reportedly followed the suspected vehicle northbound on Interstate 5 until a trooper spotted the suspect near the Donald/Aurora interchange.

State police said the man first tried to "elude troopers" before they forced his car to stop near milepost 287. Troopers used a "tactical vehicle intervention technique," according to an Oregon State Police press release. The man then was arrested.

Traffic in that area of Interstate 5 returned to normal by 12:30 p.m. Troopers remained at the scene, near milepost 287, for several hours on Thursday afternoon.

UPDATE, Thursday, 4 p.m.:

On Thursday afternoon, State Police Sergeant Bob Charpentier reported the following to KATU:

"At 11:52 a.m. the Oregon State Police Northern Command Center dispatch received information from a witness that a vehicle was northbound on Interstate 5 near milepost 268 after colliding with two other vehicles. The witness continued to follow the 1995 Honda Accord northbound as it exited at Woodburn, drove around in area parking lots and then returned to the northbound freeway lanes.

"A state trooper, set up near Donald/Aurora interchange, spotted the suspect car and attempted to stop it at 12:10 p.m. near milepost 279. The suspect sped up to speeds between 80 and 107 miles per hour until having to slow to about 60 miles per hour for heavy traffic.

"Near milepost 286 the suspect was driving on the right northbound shoulder at speeds under 30 miles per hour. An OSP trooper deployed a TVI technique against the suspect's car, causing it to come to a stop.

"Troopers took 39-year-old Eric Ryan Witt, from Rainier, into custody without further incident at 12:19 p.m. There were no injuries to any involved drivers and no damage to the trooper's patrol car.  Witt's vehicle had minor damage.

"Witt, whose operator's license is suspended, was subsequently lodged at the Marion County Jail on the following charges:

• Felony Attempt to Elude in a Vehicle
• Misdemeanor Hit & Run
• Reckless Driving
• Recklessly Endangering Another Person

"He also was cited for several traffic violations including Driving While Suspended.

Oregon State Police were assisted by Clackamas County Sheriff's Office. State police are requesting the other two drivers whose vehicles [may have been] struck by the suspect's gold Honda Accord to contact Oregon State Police dispatch at 1 (800) 452-7888."
 

Related links:

• Interstate-5 traffic camera showing the clogged area
• More traffic cameras