A 43-year-old Beaverton woman is facing assorted charges after allegedly attempting to elude Washington County Sheriff's deputies Thursday night in a sedan that was missing a front tire.
Around 9 p.m., a deputy spotted a red 1999 Volkswagen driving erratically through traffic in Beaverton. The driver was making abrupt turns and stops for no apparent reason, leading the deputy to suspect the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, said Sgt. Bob Ray, a sheriff's office spokesperson.
When the deputy attempted a traffic stop near Southwest Hocken Avenue and Southwest Millikan Way, the driver suddenly sped off.
The vehicle drove north to Highway 26 then headed westbound. Deputies laid spike strips near Northwest Brookwood Avenue that flattened the Volkswagen's left front tire.
But the car did not stop, Ray said.
It continued westbound on 26 as the tire and wheel began to disintegrate and the car's undercarriage began to leak fluids and emit sparks from the suspension.
In all, the woman drove 27 miles while missing a tire until a deputy was able to perform a Pursuit Intervention Technique to stop the car as it drove westbound in the eastbound lanes of Highway 26 at 30 miles per hour, Ray said.
The chase was nearly over. But first, the driver reportedly accelerated head-on into a deputy's patrol vehicle, causing minor damage. No one was injured.
While deputies were taking Jennifer Winklebleck into custody, flames burst from under the vehicle's hood.
Deputies used their fire extinguishers to put out the fire.
Investigators say alcohol was not a factor in the incident and it remained unclear what caused the driver to drive recklessly, Ray said.
She was lodged in the Washington County Jail and held on $40,000 bail, charged with attempting to elude, second-degree attempted assault, reckless driving, reckless endangering, attempted assault on a police officer and criminal mischief.
Additional charges are possible as the investigation continues, Ray said.
Copyright 2013 - The Oregonian, Portland, Ore.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
