Staff photo by Phil WrightThe scene behind the Pendleton Safeway shows plenty of damage from where a car crashed early Wednesday. Three passengers went to St. Anthony Hospital, a fourth received medical attention at the scene, and the driver ran but later turned himself in. Pendleton Police Chief Stuart Roberts said speed was a factor and alcohol may have contributed to the crash.

Pendleton Police Chief Stuart Roberts said James Lloyd Waligorski, 27, of Pendleton, turned himself in following a one-vehicle smash-up early Wednesday behind Safeway.

The crash occurred about 2:30 a.m. at Southwest 23rd Street and Court Avenue, right behind the back corner of the grocery store. Roberts said that, based on statements from witnesses and vehicle occupants, the car traveling from the top of the nearby overpass at about 60 mph and without lights.

The speed zone at the top of the overpass is 40 mph and drops to 25 before 23rd Street.

The driver lost control on the curve near Oxford Suites, Roberts said, and the car hit the curb at Safeway and plowed into a tree and power box and came to a stop on its side.

“That’s probably the best case scenario,” he said. “Had the power box and tree not been there, they probably would have gone into the back of Safeway.”

The driver and front passenger wore seatbelts, but none of the three passengers in the back were belted, Roberts said. One of the rear passengers scrambled free and helped the rest get out.

Ambulances took three passengers to St. Anthony Hospital, Pendleton, and medics at the crash scene treated the fourth for superficial injuries. But Roberts said the driver bolted.

The vehicle was an old police car, Roberts said — probably a 2011 Ford Crown Victoria — and may not have had rear seat belts.

Crown Vics were popular with police departments and came with a vinyl seat. Roberts said some departments, including Pendleton, removed the seat and its restraints to install a hard plastic insert that prevented anyone from stashing something in the crevices. Police take out those inserts when they recycle or auction the cars, but they do to not replace the restraints.

Robert also said alcohol may have played a role in the crash. Earlier that night, a Pendleton officer encountered the group at the Rainbow Cafe downtown and could smell they had been drinking.

The crash made local rounds on social media. Roberts said Waligorski, 27, saw images from the crash on Facebook, called police and said he was at home. Officers arrested Waligorski at about 5:30 p.m. and took him to the Umatilla County Jail, Pendleton, for felony hit and run, reckless driving and misdemeanor hit and run.

The misdemeanor hit and run is for damaging property and the felony for injuring people in the crash.

State court records show Waligorski has convictions from 2005 through 2012 for the following: driving without driving privileges; unlawful lane change; driving uninsured; violating a speed limit; failure to obey traffic control device and driving while suspended.

He also pleaded guilty in October 2012 to property hit and run.