SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Salem police say a man who ran in traffic on Oregon Highway 22 West in an apparent effort to be hit by passing vehicles was eventually struck by one and hospitalized in critical condition.
Lt. Keith Blair identified the man late Thursday night as 22-year-old Richard Juan Garcia of Salem.
Blair says acquaintances of Garcia were trying to restrain the man when police responded about 8:30 p.m. Thursday to a report of a man running through traffic. When officers arrived, the man broke free and ran westbound in the eastbound lanes.
Police chased him — while trying to alert motorists — but he was eventually hit.
Eastbound lanes in the area were closed for about two and a half hours Thursday night while police investigated.
