EUGENE, Ore. – A 37-year-old man from Eugene was arrested on Sunday evening following a high-speed pursuit that ended in a parking lot after weaving through a residential area. The incident began around 5:02 p.m. on March 30 when Eugene Police Department (EPD) officers received reports of two hit-and-run crashes involving a Hyundai Sonata, along with additional reports of reckless driving in the area.
An officer, familiar with the driver from a previous reckless driving incident earlier in the year, spotted the suspected vehicle traveling southbound on River Road, just north of Horn Lane. The officer attempted to pull over the vehicle, but as the officer approached, the driver, later identified as Andrew Todd Hampton, allegedly sped off, initiating a pursuit.
According to police, Hampton’s actions escalated as he drove through a residential neighborhood, narrowly avoiding collisions with other vehicles. Officers pursued Hampton as he continued southbound, running a solid red light at Irving Road and again at Northwest Expressway. Hampton’s reckless driving persisted as he continued southbound on Highway 99.
The chase ultimately ended when officers were able to use their patrol vehicles to pin Hampton’s car in the parking lot of Jerry’s, a local business. Hampton, however, did not surrender and reportedly fled the scene on foot. Police officers chased him through the parking lot before successfully tackling and apprehending him.
Hampton was arrested and transported to Lane County Jail. He faces several charges, including two counts of hit and run, three counts of attempting to elude a police officer, three counts of reckless driving, and one count of reckless endangering. According to jail records, Hampton remained in custody as of March 31.
This latest arrest marks a troubling pattern for Hampton, who had been previously involved in a similar incident with police in February, where he was briefly detained at a local hospital after a reckless driving episode.
Eugene police praised the swift response and coordination of the officers involved in the pursuit, emphasizing the potential danger posed by such reckless driving in densely populated areas. The case remains under investigation as authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage and risk involved.
