News Release from: Portland Police Bureau
PORTLAND POLICE INVOLVED IN HEAD ON COLLISION
Posted: September 30th, 2009 11:58 AM

The officer involved in this accident is Officer Jeffrey Ruppel. Officer Ruppel has been with the Portland Police Bureau for five years and is assigned to the afternoon shift at East Precinct.

The driver of the other vehicle involved in this accident has been identified as 53 year-old Robert King, (date of birth 3/13/46). Mr. 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.

On September 29, 2009 at approximately 9:00 p.m., a Portland Police Officer driving Eastbound on Southeast Stark Street near 136th 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 and both passengers were transported to an area hospital to be treated for their non life-threatening injuries. The officer 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 a 53-year-old man who was driving a Subaru Outback. This driver is still at an area hospital recovering from serious injuries.

The Portland Police Bureau's Major Crash Team was called to the scene to investigate. They determined that the driver of the Subaru was driving 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.