A 32-year-old man was arrested on reckless driving charges early Tuesday morning after police said he nearly struck several vehicles with a van while traveling the wrong way on Main Street in Springfield.
Emergency dispatchers started receiving calls at around 4:45 a.m. about a vehicle traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of Main Street, according to the Springfield Police Department. The van then turned onto South A Street while continuing to travel against the flow of traffic.
The driver eventually hit another vehicle before stopping near the intersection of South A Street and Seventh Street.
Springfield Police Officials said the suspect attempted to barricade himself in the van and refused to comply with officers. “Less than lethal” munitions were used to draw the suspect out of his vehicle, police said.
The suspect was taken into custody and evaluated at a hospital before being lodged at the Springfield Municipal Jail on charges of reckless driving, reckless endangerment, hit and run, and resisting arrest.
It was unclear how long the roadway was impacted while police officials conducted an on-scene investigation.
Haleigh Kochanski is a breaking news and public safety reporter for The Register-Guard. You may reach her at HKochanski@registerguard.com
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Man charged with reckless driving in Springfield, Oregon