Oregon man faces DUI charge in Northeast Hazel Dell crash

An intoxicated driver caused an injury crash in Northeast Hazel Dell on Monday night, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

The Vancouver Fire Department initially reported that a driver was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. But Sgt. Alex Schoening said the woman, who was not the person who caused the crash, was treated for minor injuries.

Police, fire and medical crews were dispatched at 7:35 p.m. to 3606 N.E. 78th St. Two cars collided at high speed, injuring one driver, the fire department said.

Schoening said Elijah Barquist, 24, of Gresham, Ore., was driving an early 2000s Lexus SUV in front of King’s Way Christian Schools when he crossed the street’s center line and crashed into a lifted pickup.

The driver of the truck complained about pain and lost consciousness at the scene, according to the sergeant. Barquist showed signs of impairment, Schoening said, so sheriff’s deputies started investigating the incident as a felony crash.

Because the driver of the pickup was treated and released from the hospital later that night, the investigation was concluded, Schoening said.

Court records say Barquist voluntarily provided a preliminary breath sample that showed a result of 0.16. In Washington, a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 is considered evidence of drunken driving. He faces a misdemeanor DUI charge in Clark County District Court.