An airport pickup turned violent Monday when police say a suspect stole a running car, leaving one man in the ICU.
PORTLAND, Ore. — When Helena Wolfe and her friend, Mark, were being picked up from Portland International Airport on Monday, the unthinkable happened: A stranger jumped into the driver’s seat while they were loading the car and took off.
“This man was in the car and drove off with Mark hanging out of the side of the car,” Wolfe said.
Wolfe had just gotten back from picking up her brother’s remains in Palm Springs and is now dealing with the traumatic event.
“Am I gonna get my car back? Am I gonna get what’s in it back?” Wolfe said. “Cremains are irreplaceable, and family heirlooms are irreplaceable, and so, all of this stuff is simultaneously going through my head, but mostly, I was concerned about Mark.”
Wolfe’s car was found at the Dutch Bros. down the street from the airport on Air Cargo Road.
Meanwhile, Mark is in the ICU with what court documents show to be five broken ribs, a concussion, memory loss and staples in his head.
Wolfe said Mark is also recovering from surgery on his neck.
“His spirits are good,” she said. “They’ve got him on good pain management. He’s sitting up.”
The suspect was identified as 52-year-old Vidal Pedraza.
Pedraza told police he had been up for five days at the time of the carjacking and was trying to get straight. He also told them he was trying to get back to Los Angeles, which is why he took the car.
Court documents show Pedraza was in trouble with the law just last week.
Documents say several witnesses saw him smashing vehicles with a rock. Police found three with significant damage near Southwest Columbia Street and Southwest 13th Avenue in downtown Portland. Pedraza was charged with criminal mischief in the case and was released from jail while awaiting trial.
“Why was this guy on the streets?” Wolfe asked. “I don’t understand.”
Pedraza faces 15 new charges, including several felony assault and robbery charges. He is being held on $100,000 bail.
Wolfe said her airport pickup experience might be different going forward.
“My daughter told me that from now on, she’s gonna put the car in park, turn the engine off, lock the doors when she gets out until they are ready to put stuff back in, and I’m thinking about that seriously as well,” Wolfe said.