Three hurt when pursuit ends in wrong-way head-on crash in Vancouver

A freeway pursuit from Cowlitz County on Friday ended in Vancouver in a wrong-way crash that sent three people to the hospital.

Two people, including an 5-week-old infant, escaped injury.

The incident began shortly after 8 p.m. when the driver of a full-sized Ford Econoline van began fleeing authorities in Cowlitz County.

The chase continued south on Interstate 5 until the van exited the freeway and tried to elude officers on surface streets, according to emergency radio traffic.

The chase ended after the van turned north onto Northeast St. James Road — a one-way street that goes south — and crashed head-on into a southbound Toyota Camry coupe near the intersection of St. James Road and Northeast 58th Street, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The crash injured the Camry’s driver, Robert R. Zimmerman, 34, of Vancouver. It also injured Kayla M. Zimmerman, 21, of Vancouver, one of two passengers in the vehicle.

The second passenger in the Camry, a 5-week-old child, was not injured.

All the occupants off the Camry were using safety restraints, the WSP said.

Robert and Kayla Zimmerman were treated at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center and released, according to the hospital.

The Econoline’s driver, Brian S. Haack, 24, of Vancouver, was not injured, but his passenger, Elizabeth D. Purkeypyle, 22, of Camas, was transported to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. She was treated and released. They were both wearing safety restraints.

Haack was booked into the Clark County Jail and will make a first appearance Monday.

A WSP bulletin said he faces potential charges of driving under the influence, reckless driving, attempting to elude a police officer, reckless endangerment and driving with a revoked license.