4 hurt in vehicle crash on I-5 in Vancouver

A California woman faces a negligent driving charge after troopers say she made an unsafe stop, causing a crash Wednesday morning on Interstate 5 in Vancouver.

Catherine Koniseti, 20, of Long Beach, Calif., was driving a 2005 Nissan Altima on Northeast Fourth Plain Boulevard and merging onto I-5 north when her vehicle lost power just before 6 a.m., according to the Washington State Patrol.

Koniseti engaged the emergency brake, causing a 1993 Plymouth Voyager minivan to crash into the rear bumper of the Nissan, troopers said.

Koniseti and her passenger, Mua Bourne, 66, of Vancouver, were both taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. Michelle Baxter, the 39-year-old driver of the minivan, and her passenger, Stormy Bennett, 20, both of Vancouver, also were taken to PeaceHealth.

Koniseti and Bennett were treated and released from the hospital, while Bourne and Baxter were listed in satisfactory condition there on Wednesday, according to hospital staff.

Koniseti faces a charge of negligent driving and not having a valid operator’s license, troopers reported.

The right and center lanes of the highway were closed for about an hour, with all lanes reopening by 7 a.m.