WSP investigates pair of crashes near Battle Ground

A crash north of Battle Ground between two motorcycles injured two men Sunday.

Both motorcycles were traveling south on state Highway 503 near Northeast 299th Street when they tried to pass southbound traffic in the northbound lane. As Jeremy K. Hanson, 18, of Battle Ground slowed to drive his motorcycle back into the southbound lane, the other motorcycle, driven by Drew R. Kornfeind, 57 of Battle Ground, rear-ended Hanson’s bike, according to a press memo from the Washington State Patrol.

Both men were transported to Peace Health Southwest Medical Center with injuries that were not life threatening, WSP Sgt. Grant Clark said. One suffered a broken wrist and the other had a broken rib, Clark added.

The crash, which remains under investigation, was caused by unsafe passing, according to the press memo.

It wasn’t the only crash on state Highway 503 on Sunday.

At about 1:30 p.m., troopers responded to a single-vehicle rollover in the northbound lanes of the highway near Northeast Rock Creek road, north of Battle Ground.

Cindy K. Tofte, 54, of Vancouver had been driving a red 1999 Buick Regal south on the highway when she lost control, veered off the roadway and rolled, State Patrol said in a news release.

She was transported to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, where she was treated and released.

Tofte faces a charge of driving under the influence, State Patrol said.