Eugene Police Arrest Driver Following DUII Crash, Raising Road Safety Concerns

Francisco Cristobal Manuel, 27, was arrested the afternoon of March 24 after a Eugene Police Housing Support officer watched him spin a Toyota Camry's tires on wet pavement, nearly hit a pedestrian mid-crosswalk, then accelerate away when the officer attempted a traffic stop. Manuel faces charges of eluding by vehicle, driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving, and reckless endangering under case number 26-04350.

The sequence began at about 3:29 p.m. near West 7th Avenue and Garfield Street, where the officer observed the Camry skid to a stop before the intersection, then accelerate again as a pedestrian entered the crosswalk. The vehicle continued eastbound, drifting within its lane and nearly striking a stopped truck before the officer activated a siren and pursued. Manuel stopped near West 5th Avenue and Polk Street but failed to comply with commands and repeatedly moved his hands into his lap before being taken into custody. A 49-year-old male passenger, who told officers he had been picked up at a service station on Highway 99, was detained. The Camry was impounded.

The arrest caps a months-long pattern across Lane County. Between January 7 and January 22, deputies and Eugene Police logged at least ten DUII arrests, a pace that included crashes causing power outages and at least one hospitalization.

Among the most serious: Blake David Morgan, 34, rear-ended a Kia K4 on a motorcycle at Kincaid Street and East 13th Avenue just after midnight on January 11, striking the sedan while it waited to turn at a signal. Officers suspected impairment on contact; Morgan was medically cleared at a local hospital before being booked at Lane County Jail on charges including felony DUII and reckless driving. The Kia's two occupants, a 16-year-old driver and a 24-year-old passenger, were not injured.

On January 18, Lance Allan Harris, 56, of Eugene, crashed into a power pole leaving powerlines down across his vehicle; he was arrested for DUII and recklessly endangering another person. Four days later on January 22, Annette Suzanne Wizner, 47, of Marcola, was ejected from her vehicle in a crash that knocked out power in the surrounding area. She was hospitalized and arrested for DUII, first-degree criminal mischief, and reckless driving.

The Lane County Sheriff's Office said deputies are "tackling impaired driving with a series of DUII arrests" despite lacking regular funding for a dedicated traffic team, adding that deputies "remain committed to community safety, patrolling roadways and responding to incidents."

Under Oregon law, a first or second DUII is typically a Class A misdemeanor. A third offense within ten years escalates to a Class C felony carrying up to five years in state prison, a mandatory minimum of 90 days in jail, and fines up to $10,000. Crashes involving injury can elevate a first offense to felony status as well. Arraignment typically follows arrest within days, with pretrial hearings reviewing breath or blood test results and officer observations. Oregon's implied consent law allows administrative license suspension upon arrest, regardless of the criminal case outcome.

To report a suspected impaired driver, call 911 and give dispatchers the vehicle description, direction of travel, and license plate if it is safe to observe. Do not follow or confront the driver. Eugene is served by Uber and Lyft; Lane Transit District operates bus routes across the city and into surrounding communities, with schedules available through its customer service line.