Clark County medical examiner identifies boy killed in crash

The 10-year-old boy killed Tuesday morning after being struck on his bicycle by a pickup has been identified as Damien T. Vandecasteele.

The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office said in a Thursday morning news release that Damien died from blunt force injuries in an accident with a vehicle.

Damien was a Vancouver resident, according to the medical examiner, and Clark County sheriff’s deputies previously said the boy lived near the scene of the crash on Northeast Ninth Street in east Vancouver.

An initial traffic investigation found the truck was eastbound on Ninth Street, and Damien was northbound on 167th Avenue, riding in the roadway. At the four-way intersection, Damien rode directly into the path of the eastbound truck and was hit, according to the sheriff’s office.

The driver, identified as 45-year-old James Elieisar of Vancouver, stayed at the scene and assisted deputies.

Illahee Elementary School Principal Kiya Masunaga said Damien was a student at the school. A letter went out to families saying the school has brought in trained counselors from throughout the district to aid students and staff.

Masunaga wrote that the school is supporting the boy’s family and offered a comprehensive website to assist parents with supporting their children in light of the death: https://childmind.org/guide/helping-children-cope-grief.