Police: Man found in roadway died from hit-and-run

A Vancouver man whose body was found last month died after being struck by a vehicle, Vancouver Police Department spokeswoman Kim Kapp said.

The body of Denis O. Ponomarev, 25, was found in the 600 block of North Blandford Drive at about 11:45 p.m. Dec. 5 by a motorist who happened upon it, Kapp said.

The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Ponomarev had been run over by a vehicle while lying in the road and that he died of blunt head trauma. Kapp said the victim was intoxicated.

“The investigation is ongoing to determine the circumstances of how the victim ended up laying partially in the roadway,” Kapp said.

No one reported hitting the man, Kapp said, so no suspect has been identified, and no suspect vehicle has been identified.

Officer Jeff Starks, who is investigating the incident, said he thinks that Ponomarev was struck just prior to being found. Anyone who was in the area at that time or who has any information on the incident is asked to call Starks at 360-487-7484.