Motorcyclist blamed for injury crash

A motorcyclist that was spotted speeding in the Salmon Creek neighborhood is accused of causing a collision a few minutes later.

The crash was discovered at 7:17 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of Northeast 179th Street and Northeast 10th Avenue by a Washington State Patrol trooper.

According to Clark County Sheriff’s deputies, who are investigating, the trooper had seen a motorcyclist speed by him in Hazel Dell a few minutes earlier. The motorcyclist then apparently exited northbound Interstate 5 at 179th Street, then ran a red light at Northeast 10th.

He collided with a westbound pickup in the intersection.

The motorcyclist was identified as Ruslan Tkachenko, 20, of Battle Ground. He suffered serious injuries and was taken to a hospital; his condition was not immediately available.

Tkachenko attended Battle Ground schools. According to a 2003 Mother’s Day story in The Columbian, he is one of six children. His family emigrated from Kazakhstan to Battle Ground in 1996.

The pickup was driven by Zachary Byers, 36, of Ridgefield. He suffered minor injuries and declined medical treatment, according to a news release.

Although the collision remains under investigation, deputies said speed and failure to obey a traffic signal were contributing factors.