COPS need cops, ambulances in east Portland accident
Last night there was an injury accident in east Portland involving a police car and two people from the television show COPS. The combined press releases from the Portland Police Bureau follow.
“On September 29, 2009 at approximately 9:00 p.m., a Portland Police Officer driving Eastbound on Southeast Stark Street near 136th (Avenue) was hit by an oncoming vehicle that veered into the officer’s lane. Two passengers from the COPS television show were riding in the officer’s vehicle as part of a COPS production that is currently being filmed with the Portland Police Bureau.
“The officer involved — Jeffrey Ruppel, who has been with the Portland Police Bureau for five years and is assigned to the afternoon shift at East Precinct — and both passengers were transported to an area hospital to be treated for their non life-threatening injuries.
“Officer Ruppel and one of the COPS passengers were released from the hospital last night, but the other passenger is still in the hospital with serious head injuries.
“The driver of the other vehicle is 53-year-old Robert King who was driving a Subaru Outback. King is still at an area hospital also recovering from serious injuries.
“The Portland Police Bureau’s Major Crash Team was called to the scene to investigate. They determined that King’s Subaru was Westbound on Southeast Stark Street when he veered into the officer’s oncoming lane and hit the police car head on.
“Investigators believe that alcohol was a factor in this accident and this investigation is ongoing.
King has not yet been charged or cited and this investigation is continuing.
“The names of the two film crew members from the show COPS are being withheld until confirmation of family notification has been made.”
