A man who led Washington State Patrol troopers on a high-speed chase in October, prompting a passenger to leap from his vehicle, was sentenced Thursday to nearly 1½ years in prison.
Kenny R. Christensen, 21, no hometown listed, pleaded guilty in Clark County Superior Court to attempting to elude police, unlawful imprisonment and reckless driving in connection with the early-morning incident on Interstate 205 and Interstate 5. As part of a plea deal, one count of third-degree driving with a suspended license was dismissed.
On Thursday, Judge Robert Lewis sentenced Christensen to 17 months in prison and 12 months of community custody. He was given credit for 40 days in custody.
A trooper attempted to stop Christensen shortly before 12:15 a.m. Oct. 24 for traveling 78 mph in a 60-mph zone on northbound I-205 near Milepost 30.
Christensen refused to stop and sped off, reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph. He swerved at multiple vehicles to try to get troopers to end the pursuit, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Christensen then drove onto I-5 and exited at a rest area. Troopers terminated the pursuit because of a threat to public safety, the affidavit said. Christensen sped through the rest area, driving over the sidewalk and grass, before getting back onto the freeway. A female passenger jumped from his vehicle and sustained injuries to her face, court records said.
Troopers resumed the chase on northbound I-5, and Christensen eventually surrendered after leaving the freeway at Milepost 22 in Woodland and then attempting to get back on, according to court documents.
Christensen’s passenger told troopers she begged him to stop, but he refused, the affidavit said.
