Arrest Made in ‘Instagram Blue Pickup’ Case
PORTLAND, Ore. — The driver of a bright blue 1994 GMC Sierra pickup truck, known for his reckless driving videos on Instagram, was arrested on April 18, 2025, following a hit-and-run incident witnessed by Nick Brown, owner of Nick’s Famous Coney Island.
The incident occurred when Oscar Burell Jr., 33, stopped his truck in the middle of SE Hawthorne Boulevard near 37th Street, causing another driver to become agitated. After Burell left his truck to sell clothes at a nearby store, the blocked driver yelled at him and then drove off with Burell’s keys from the truck. Burell subsequently called the police to report the hit-and-run.
When police arrived, they recognized Burell’s name and called for backup. He was 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.
The ‘Instagram blue pickup’ had gained notoriety online for its reckless driving stunts, including driving on the shoulder of I-5 and performing donuts in Peninsula Park. The arrest brings relief to the Portland community, who had been following the Instagram account with concern.
Brown, who witnessed the incident, expressed satisfaction 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 arrest marks the end of a weeks-long saga that had Portland residents on edge, thanks to the widespread sharing of his driving exploits on social media.
