An Oregon man who prosecutors say he intentionally crashed his vehicle against pedestrians and cyclists, killing a grandmother of five and injuring others, was charged on Wednesday with murder and other charges.
The reason for the uproar that started when a person was beaten on Monday afternoon was unclear, but police said the driver’s actions showed his intention to attack and injure people.
Paul Rivas, 64, was charged with one second-degree murder charge, seven counts of failing to act as a driver and six charges of second-degree assault, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt said in a statement.
Rivas appeared in court on Wednesday, and a guilty plea was filed on his behalf, the prosecution said. He was named a public defender who declined to comment on Wednesday night.
Jean Gerich, 77, was killed in the confusion, who was hit by a Honda Element, who then turned around and hit the pavement, hitting her a second time, according to a probable cause statement.
Rivas was arrested after crashing his Honda Element, fleeing on foot and being surrounded by passersby, police said.
After interviewing witnesses, the police “discovered that Rivas appeared to be deliberately trying to hit vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians nearby, dodging them while they were on the road and on the sidewalk,” the prosecution said in a statement. After each accident, the driver took off, he said.
Rivas told police after his arrest that he was driving a Honda Element and acknowledged that he was surrounded and arrested after hitting him, but gave a series of explanations about the hit and run, said the probable cause testimony.
This included that he had brake problems and was looking for a store; that an element of similar appearance could have hit them; and that he hit a cyclist, but characterized it as an emergency maneuver to prevent a more serious accident, the statement said.
