Woman Arrested After Two Crashes and Pursuit

On Sunday April 28, 2024, at 5:33 p.m., Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a crash at N. Adair St. and N. 10th Ave. in Cornelius. A woman driving a white 2007 Dodge Charger hit a maroon 1997 Ford F150 and fled the scene. She was later identified as 39-year-old Lisa L. Sullivan of Cornelius. Two deputies were on scene almost immediately. One of them helped the driver of the Ford, who had minor injuries and was later taken to a hospital by a family member. He was the only person in the Ford.

The other deputy started looking for the Dodge, as witnesses saw the car leave the scene at a high rate of speed going north out of Cornelius. Multiple other 911 calls started coming in, reporting the car passing recklessly at high speeds and driving on one rim.

Around 5:40 p.m., the deputy started to catch up to the Dodge when he came across a second crash. Ms. Sullivan hit a 2016 Mercedes sedan at Highway 47 and NW Verboort Rd. and also fled that scene. The woman driving the Mercedes also had minor injuries and got a private ride to a hospital. She was also the only person in the Mercedes.

While the deputy checked on that driver, a Forest Grove sergeant saw the Dodge and tried to pull it over. Ms. Sullivan refused to stop and police pursued her at speeds of about 80 miles per hour as she drove out of Forest Grove on Highway 8.

A Sheriff’s Office deputy joined the pursuit and was able to use a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuver to bring the chase to a safe stop at 5:49 p.m. Ms. Sullivan’s Dodge went off the side of Highway 8 near NW Stringtown Rd. and dropped over an embankment about 25 feet into a farm field. She refused commands to get out of her car, and when she finally did, she tried to leave on foot and deputies tackled her in the field and arrested her at 5:56 p.m.

Ms. Sullivan was taken to a hospital to be checked for minor injuries. She will be lodged into jail for the following charges:

• Two counts of fleeing or attempting to elude police officer, one felony count for failing to stop her car during the pursuit and one misdemeanor count for trying to flee on foot
• Two counts of felony failure to perform the duties of a driver to injured persons (hit and run causing injury), one for each crash she caused
• One count each of reckless driving and recklessly endangering another person, for the danger to the public caused by her actions

The Sheriff’s Office wants to thank the Forest Grove Police Department for helping find Ms. Sullivan and safely taking her into custody before anyone else was hurt.