Last Friday night, Andres Ni o had just wrapped up his shift at a food truck in Northeast Portland when he heard what sounded like an explosion.
Then, a block away from the family-owned cart, Ni os Birrieria, he hurried toward the sound. Silverio Ni o Guatemala, his father, had just driven out with his lover. Andres Ni o witnessed a Ford Focus driver slam into his father’s vehicle at Northeast Prescott Street and 70th Avenue.
Andres Ni o reported that when he saw the crash, tears filled his eyes. He said, “It was just crazy to see my dad like that.” I wasn’t sure what to do at first.
Shortly before that evening, a Portland police officer attempted to pull over 29-year-old Rafael Gonzalez, the driver of the Ford, who was wanted for two DUIIs.
According to court documents, Gonzalez sped off after an officer attempted to pull him over for driving too fast. Gonzalez was traveling at least double the posted speed limit.
Although the Police Bureau relaxed its pursuit rules last year to deter suspects from fleeing capture, police claimed they did not pursue Gonzalez.
Police claim that instead, the officer switched off his overhead lights and followed from a distance. Gonzalez was also being followed by a police surveillance aircraft.
According to police, a pursuit occurs when an officer actively tries to apprehend a suspect or follow them in a vehicle while the subject is actively resisting. Police claim that this excludes the use of an airplane, trailing, and attempts by officers to position themselves ahead of a suspect.
Gonzalez may have been drunk when the collision occurred, according to the police. According to court documents, police discovered multiple cases and containers of beer in his vehicle.
After a man suspected of driving under the influence and evading the police crashed into the driver’s side of Silverio Ni o Guatemala’s vehicle on Friday, February 21, 2025, in Northeast Portland.Thanks to Silverio Ni o
Gonzalez is still being held in Multnomah County and faces numerous felony and misdemeanor charges, including reckless driving, hit-and-run, driving while intoxicated, and evading police. Gonzalez’s failure to appear in court in two DUII cases—one in Columbia County in December 2023 and another in Washington County a few weeks later—led to warrants for his arrest.
Gonzalez entered a guilty plea in August to two counts of reckless endangerment and driving while intoxicated; however, he has not appeared in court and has not received a sentence in that Columbia County case.
Joshua Pond, the district attorney for Columbia County, stated that it is extremely difficult to protect the community from those who are chronic or repeat DUI offenders. In a situation like this, we have placed him under arrest multiple times, suspended him, and he continues to commit crimes. The number of resources and possibilities is restricted.
According to the man’s younger son, Ni o Guatemala and his girlfriend, Julie Parra, were admitted to the hospital on Wednesday due to concussions and other injuries, and they were later released. The Silverio Nio and his older brother, Andres, are thankful that Parra and their father made it through the collision.
The pair, who both sustained concussions, described the incident as a blur, according to Silverio Ni y.
In 2021, the brothers’ mother passed away. The reason Ni o Guatemala and his sons decided to start their food truck, Ni os Birrieria, that year was because of her.
“That was one of the things we wanted to do after she passed away, especially to remember her by,” Silverio Ni o stated.
Their father has been in Portland for 30 years, and he and his four siblings have spent their whole lives here. He followed in his footsteps by wishing to work at a restaurant and become a cook, as did Andres.
Numerous dishes on the menu are inspired by their family’s history in Guerrero, Mexico. They serve Guerrero nachos, Silverado’s taquitos, and a Ni os platter.
Andres and Silverio have taken up their father’s responsibilities, which include preparing the birria, while he recovers from the accident. To help cover the cost of a new car and medical costs, the family launched a fundraising.
Since then, the truck has been visited by locals and regular customers who have left cards and flowers and inquired about their father.
“That is very important to us,” Silverio Ni o said. They treat us like family, as evidenced by this.
For The Oregonian/OregonLive, Zaeem Shaikh writes about criminal justice problems and the Portland Police Bureau. You can reach him on X@zaeemshake or at 503-221-4323, [email protected].
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