A Portland man who hopped into the cab of an idling tow truck and took off — as a Retriever Towing employee clung on for dear life — is fighting a half-dozen felony charges as a trial began Monday. Prosecutors say Eric Clayson Streitzel, 38, reached speeds of 85 mph during the July 10, 2023, alleged hijacking, which began when he got into the truck on the east end of the Steel Bridge, wove through Old Town and then sped up on Interstates 405 and 5. In dramatic footage, the towing employee, Travis Christ, can be seen banging on the rear window of his truck, then calling a 911 dispatcher as he sat down in the truck bed. Christ told the jury he jumped on the back “by instinct” and wasn’t able to jump off, saying the four-foot high leap would not have been safe. Read more at the link in our bio. 📸: Multnomah County District Attorney's Office #crime #portland #portlandoregon #multnomahcounty