Vancouver teen in court in Highway 500 crash

A Vancouver teen who reportedly lost control of his vehicle and struck a tree off state Highway 500, injuring two of his passengers, allegedly had a blood-alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Skyler P. Scott, 19, made a first appearance Tuesday in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of vehicular assault and hit-and-run resulting in injury stemming from the early Sunday morning crash.

Scott was driving a 2004 Pontiac Vibe east on the highway about 6:40 a.m. when the vehicle left the road, re-entered the highway and then veered off the road again. The Pontiac traveled through private property and struck a tree, the affidavit states.

A rear passenger, Sadie Akers, 19, of Washougal, sustained minor injuries and was transported to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center for treatment, court documents said. She was discharged later that day. Another rear passenger, 19-year-old Aaron Donald of Vancouver, suffered brain bleeding. He, too, was transported to PeaceHealth, court records state, and, as of Tuesday afternoon, had been treated and released, according to a hospital spokesperson.

Scott and a front passenger, a juvenile, left the crash scene on foot, the affidavit said.

Clark County sheriff’s deputies and Washington State Patrol troopers responded and found the two about a mile from the crash scene, court records said.

Scott initially denied being involved in the crash, later told officers he was a passenger and then admitted to being the driver. He said the vehicle left the road after he became distracted by passenger activity in the backseat, the affidavit said. Scott told officers he drank an alcoholic beverage and smoked “a bunch” of marijuana before the crash. A preliminary breath test found Scott had a blood-alcohol level of 0.142, court records state. In Washington, a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 is considered evidence of drunken driving.

His bail on Tuesday was set at $15,000. He will be arraigned June 9.