Man on trial accused of stealing tow truck, crashing into cars on I-5 as driver clings to back
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A man is on trial after allegedly stealing a tow truck, driving it upwards of 85 miles per hour on the freeway and then crashing into other cars — all while the operator was clinging on in the back.
Prosecutors said the tow truck operator called 911 from the open truck bed before sustaining injuries from the crash. The entire ordeal lasted 11 minutes.
The trial for Eric Streitzel began on Tuesday. He is accused of attempted murder and a slew of other charges in connection to the incident, which began on the Steel Bridge on July 10, 2023.
Dashcam footage shows Strietzel allegedly hopping into the cab of an idling tow truck near Northwest 9th Avenue and Northwest Glisan Street as it was in the middle of processing a vehicle.
Travis Christ, the tow operator with Retriever Towing, then hops onto the back of the truck and bangs on the back window.
Strietzel then allegedly enters the freeway, with Christ still clinging onto the back. At one point, the dashcam footage shows the suspect turning on music and dancing in the driver's seat.
Christ then calls 911 from the back of the truck. Once on I-5 heading south, Strietzel then allegedly passes cars in the right shoulder, hitting multiple vehicles before crashing into a semi.
Christ said his head crashed through the back window when the final collision happened. He was still standing afterward but covered in blood from a wound on his head.
Prosecutors said Portland police officers found the suspect "standing in the middle of I-5, with no shoes on" before being taken into custody.
Strietzel is accused of 21 criminal charges related to the incident, including second-degree attempted murder, first-degree robbery, first-degree kidnapping, two counts of second-degree assault and other charges. His trial resumes on Wednesday.