Driver accused of ‘deliberately' ramming motorcyclist now faces attempted murder charge
PORTLAND, Ore. () — The driver accused of intentionally ramming a motorcyclist and causing him injuries from sliding across a highway is now facing attempted murder and other charges.
The new charge comes after a Washington County grand jury indicted Samir Helio Pazzoto-Filho after the alleged off Highway 26 on the morning of May 5.
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Video of the incident shows a blue Kia driver sideswiping a motorcyclist, with the rider becoming dislodged from his vehicle and sliding across the concrete ground.
The motorcyclist, a young man in his 20s, reportedly slid 250 feet on his stomach, shredding his clothes, cracking his helmet and disintegrating the steel toe of his shoe along the way. After a stay at a hospital for serious injuries, the motorcyclist was released and is currently recovering at home, the Beaverton Police Department said on Tuesday.
'The fact that somebody deliberately turned into my son and rammed him off the road is what makes me sick to my stomach,' said the victim's mother, Patsy, in an interview with KOIN 6 News last week. 'His actions could've killed my son.'
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On May 6, Beaverton police came to Pazzoto-Filho's home near Highway 26 and Southwest 185th Avenue, based on a community tip. When officers arrived, they saw a blue Kia Carnival with signs of crash damage matching the description of the suspect vehicle. He was arrested without incident, officials said.
Pazzoto-Filho appeared in court on Tuesday after a grand jury added the more severe attempted murder charge to his original list of charges. The jury also charged him with first- and second-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, felony hit and run and reckless driving.
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The investigation into the incident is still ongoing. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the case or 'Pazzoto-Filho's driving behavior before or during the incident' to contact Beaverton police
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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