We wish that we lived in a world where we could trust everyone and life was always happy and beautiful. Of course, we know that’s not the case, and it feels like we must be on alert every second of every day. You just never know how a person might react, and it can be really scary just to exist. An Oregon family just minding their own business, walking in a parking lot, had a truly terrifying experience.
An unidentified pregnant woman in the family was holding her 2-year-old when a Jeep Patriot struck them. The woman’s husband went to confront the driver, but the Jeep’s passenger, Izac Hunter Rutledge, allegedly stabbed the man and then ran away. Police arrested him a short time later, but the entire incident left the family shaken.
The incident occurred in the early afternoon.
The Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office shared in a news release that it received reports of a vehicle hitting a pedestrian at Rockaway Beach Wayside in the town of Rockaway Beach just after 1 p.m. March 22, 2026. According to authorities, after the accident, the husband of the woman and child struck by the vehicle confronted the driver. The Jeep’s passenger, identified as Rutledge, allegedly got out of the vehicle and stabbed the man in the back. The driver left the scene, and Rutledge ran away.
The driver reportedly had a change of heart.
The unidentified driver left the scene but returned a short time later on foot and cooperated with police. Rutledge allegedly tried to avoid arrest by leaving and changing his clothes, the news release noted. The sheriff’s office, Oregon State Police, and Manzanita Police Department banded together and found Rutledge a short time later.
Police took Rutledge into custody, and he faces charges of assault in the first degree, menacing, unlawful use of a weapon, and disorderly conduct. The sheriff’s office did not list any charges against the female driver.
Thankfully, everyone should be OK.
The sheriff’s office noted the woman and child received minor injuries in the accident but should be OK. Emergency personnel took the husband to a hospital, and he is expected to recover.
“I am proud of the swift response by our deputies and thankful for the assistance from the citizens who were present and helped provide information during the incident,” Sheriff Josh Brown shared in the news release.
The story saddened the community.
KPTV spoke to Logan Warnock, who works at Joe’s Snacks and Beer, which is near the scene of the attack.
“Spring Break is already so chaotic for us, and to hear that it was somebody from a bigger city… and to do something like that and stain our small town and such a lovely community, it’s hard,” Warnock said.
Cleo Fraginal, who works at Sea Breeze Gifts, agreed with Warnock’s sentiment. “I’m in shock,” she said, per KPTV. “This is such a Portland thing to hear, not a small county where everybody knows each other.”
Thankfully, the family will recover and hopefully move on. We’re not sure what possessed Rutledge to act the way police say he did. Anyone who reverts to stabbing during an altercation clearly needs some help.
