Eugene Police Seek Help Identifying Subaru Driver Who Ran Red Light, Fled

A silver, older-model Subaru Outback ran a red light and "drove at a dangerous speed through a church parking lot to elude the officer," Eugene Police Department officials said after the vehicle escaped an attempted traffic stop on W. 18th Avenue near Chambers at about 1 p.m. on Feb. 16. The officer was stopped in the fast lane facing east when the Outback failed to stop.

The city posted a public request for help on Feb. 17, providing case number 26-02401 and an EPD-provided image of the vehicle. EPD described the car as a silver Subaru Outback from roughly 2000 to 2004 with a roof rack and asked, "Can you help the Eugene Police Department identify the driver of this Subaru?" Anyone with tips was asked to call the non-emergency line at (541) 682-5111.

Eugene's official account says the driver evaded the officer when the stop was attempted; the newsroom entry spelled out the scene: "At around 1 p.m. on February 16, a Eugene Police officer was stopped in the fast lane facing east on W. 18th Avenue near Chambers when an older model silver Subaru Outback (2000-2004) with a roof rack ran the stop light and then eluded the officer when he attempted to stop it." Police have not released a license plate number, driver description, or any charges tied to the incident.

The EPD image was circulated on social media by local stations, prompting public reaction captured on one post. Commenters included Jon Karl Walrod, who questioned dash cam use and plate visibility; Evan Michael, who wrote "Find a Subaru in Eugene? Easy money...."; and Kent Ernst, who posted, "In a Subaru? LMFAO! Good luck finding a Subaru in Oregon." Those posts reflect local frustration and the challenge of identifying an older Outback in a city where that make is common.

No arrests or citations related to the Subaru incident were reported in the department's public request. Investigators have not named the church whose parking lot was used in the evasion, and the department did not indicate whether dashcam or surveillance stills beyond the released image are available for public release.

Eugene police reiterated the case number 26-02401 for callers and urged anyone with information about the silver 2000–2004 Subaru Outback with a roof rack to contact the EPD non-emergency line at (541) 682-5111.