Arrest Made in Connection with Infamous Instagram Reckless Driving Account
PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland police arrested Oscar Burell Jr., 33, on Friday, April 18, 2025, in connection with a series of reckless driving incidents that had gained him a following on Instagram. The arrest came after a hit-and-run incident observed by Nick Brown, owner of Nick’s Famous Coney Island on SE Hawthorne near 37th Avenue.
According to Brown, Burell stopped his bright blue 1994 GMC Sierra pickup truck in the middle of the road, causing another driver to become agitated. When Burell left his truck to sell clothes at a nearby store, the blocked driver took advantage of the situation and drove off with Burell’s keys, which were left in the truck. Burell then reported the incident to the police.
When officers arrived, they recognized Burell’s name and called for backup. He was subsequently arrested and charged with three counts of reckless driving, criminal mischief, and recklessly endangering another person. Burell is expected to make his first court appearance on Tuesday in Multnomah County.
Brown, who had seen Burell’s Instagram videos but didn’t know he was the suspect at the time, expressed relief that Burell is off the streets. “I think that people that break the law maliciously are not the people that we want in the city,” he said.
The other driver involved in the hit-and-run has not been found. Burell’s Instagram account featured hundreds of videos documenting his reckless driving antics, including driving on the shoulder of I-5 and performing donuts near Peninsula Park’s tennis courts.
