Washington County deputies rescued a drunken driver from his burning car early Wednesday after he drove the wrong way on U.S. 26, forced a deputy off the road to avoid a head-on crash, then slammed into a signpost, authorities say.
Deputy Kevin Weisenfluh was driving east on 26 near the Oregon 217 interchange in Beaverton about 2:40 a.m. when he saw headlights coming toward him, turned on his overhead lights and swerved to avoid the oncoming car, according to the county sheriff's office.
Weisenfluh radioed other deputies in the area about the wrong-way driver, who crashed soon after into the center barrier and support posts of an overhead traffic sign, the sheriff's office said.
Deputy Mark Shah arrived and ran to the car as flames began to emerge from the engine compartment and spread to the passenger's side.
Shah grabbed a fire extinguisher from his patrol car and douse the flames from the burning car, the sheriff's office said. When the extinguisher ran empty, Shah cut the driver's seatbelt and tried to pull the him free.
Deputies Jason Waterbury and Gary Upton also used fire extinguishers, but they had little effect. Shah and Waterbury pulled the unconscious and bleeding driver out of the car. He regained consciousness soon after.
Beaverton police later identified the driver as 22-year-old Mohammed Warfa and his car as a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. His blood alcohol content was .23 percent, police said. Warfa was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive.
Charges have not yet been announced.
-- Everton Bailey Jr.
ebailey@oregonian.com
503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey