Vancouver police investigate a hit-and-run crash at Fourth Plain Boulevard and Northeast Andresen Road that seriously injured a Vancouver man Thursday.Photo Gallery
Vancouver police arrested a Yacolt man following a hit-and-run crash that seriously injured a pedestrian early Thursday morning.
A pedestrian, identified as Cody T. Robinson of Vancouver, was struck about 5:30 a.m. while crossing Northeast Andresen Road at Fourth Plain Boulevard.
The driver didn’t stop, but police soon located a suspect vehicle in a parking lot at a McDonald’s restaurant just south of the intersection.
Investigators contacted the registered owner of the vehicle, a white Chevrolet SUV. He was identified as James D. Schellhas, 28, of Yacolt.
Police said Schellhas reported his vehicle stolen shortly after the hit-and-run crash occurred. But after investigating, officers arrested him on suspicion of vehicular assault and hit-and-run driving. He is due to make a first court appearance this morning.
Robinson, 20, was taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, where he was listed in serious condition Thursday afternoon.
Courtney Swanson, Robinson’s girlfriend, said that Robinson was in the hospital’s intensive care unit and was stable.
“We all just ask everyone who knows him to pray for him and send blessings to him and his family,” she wrote in a message. “We have faith.”
Traffic was slowed near the busy intersection for several hours as police investigated.
History of collisions
The intersection of Fourth Plain and Andresen Road is one of the city’s busiest. Data shows at least five other collisions there that involved a vehicle and either a pedestrian or bicyclist. In several instances, the cyclist or pedestrian was ruled at fault.
None of those accidents resulted in serious injuries, according to the data, which was compiled by the Washington State Department of Transportation.
o On Nov. 2, 2005, a southbound pickup driving straight through the intersection on Andresen struck and injured a pedestrian shortly after 5 p.m. It was a clear day, and police determined that the pedestrian was not obeying traffic signals.
o On Feb. 13, 2006, a car collided with a bicyclist, who was traveling on the roadway in the wrong direction at about 1 p.m. The car was turning right onto Fourth Plain from Andresen. Police said the bicyclist did not grant right of way to the car and that the road was wet, according to the data.
o On June 5, 2013, a vehicle turned west on Andresen from a business at the corner of the intersection and hit and injured a bicyclist. The collision occurred at about 2:30 p.m. on a clear day, according to the data.
o Later that summer, at 5 p.m. July 28, a bicyclist made an improper turn at the intersection and hit a car. No one was injured.
o Last December, a pickup truck was traveling north on Andresen through the intersection at about 8 p.m. when it struck a pedestrian, who was not obeying traffic signals, according to the data. It was dark and the road was wet.
Anyone with information on Thursday’s incident is asked to call the Vancouver Police Department Tip Line at 360-487-7399.
