A Vancouver 18-year-old is suspected of reckless driving and vehicular assault after causing a crash Sunday morning that left an 81-year-old driver with head and back injuries, according to court records.
Officers arrested Dmitriy Lezhnin on Sunday morning on suspicion of reckless driving, reckless endangerment, eluding arrest and two counts of vehicular assault.
According to a police probable-cause statement filed with court records, a state trooper saw a dark blue Acura sedan moving fast from Interstate 205 onto Exit 30 to state Highway 500 and Northeast 112th Avenue, shortly before 8 a.m.
The trooper’s radar said the car was going 82 mph in a 60 mph zone, and he merged into traffic to pull over the driver, later identified as Lezhnin.
The Acura took the exit to 112th Avenue southbound and failed to negotiate a right turn, went over a curb into the northbound lanes and then struck a red Toyota SUV, according to court records.
The trooper pulled up to see Lezhnin get out of the car, then arrested him. Lezhnin admitted to investigators that he was attempting to avoid getting pulled over.
Lezhnin was not hurt, according to the Washington State Patrol.
A passenger riding with him, Vancouver’s Vitaliy Lezhnin, 19, was hurt, and went in a private vehicle to a hospital for treatment. Court records said he had a broken right hand.
The SUV driver, Lowell D. Finstad of Vancouver, was taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center for his injuries.
Court records say the crash fractured his back and sternum, caused internal brain bleeding, organ damage and cuts to his arm and head.
The hospital said Monday night that Finstad had been moved from the ICU that afternoon, and was listed in satisfactory condition.
Dmitriy Lezhnin was booked into the Clark County Jail, and released Monday after posting bond. His next court date was set for Feb. 9.
