A SUSPECTED thief who nabbed a motorcycle from a petrol forecourt got around 16 miles before ploughing into the back of a pick-up truck.

Jarred Lee Hoffman, 28, struck up a conversation with the owner of a Kawasaki Ninja, pretending to admire the paintwork.

Hoffman asked if he could sit on the bike and when the owner agreed, he rode off.

But within minutes Hoffman crashed into the back of a pick-up which was slowing for a police car on an emergency call.

Hoffman took the bike from a petrol station in Wilsonville, Oregon, and crashed a few miles away near Gervais.

Several drivers called police to report Hoffman's reckless riding on Interstate 5.

He suffered minor injuries in the crash on Wednesday.

Hoffman faces multiple charges including unauthorised use of a motor vehicle, recklessly endangering another person, reckless driving, DUI, felony attempt to elude police and possession of heroin.