A 25-year-old Camas man appeared in Clark County Superior Court on Tuesday to face charges stemming from a pair of hit-and-run crashes on state Highway 14.
Tristain J. Hayes has been jailed on suspicion of hit-and-run injury and vehicular assault. Judge Jennifer Snider set Hayes’ bail at $20,000. An arraignment hearing was scheduled for Oct. 30.
A Washington State Patrol bulletin said the first crash occurred at 5:30 p.m. when an eastbound 2018 Chrysler sedan driven by Hayes struck a 2008 Toyota Tacoma pickup driven by Randy L. Payne, 48, of Washougal.
Troopers said Hayes was passing in a no-passing zone near Washougal River Road at a high rate of speed and then immediately “brake checked” in front of Payne, causing Payne’s pickup to crash into the rear of Hayes’ vehicle.
Witnesses told responding law enforcement that the suspect’s vehicle was driving erratically and speeding on the shoulder of the road, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The bulletin said Hayes kept driving east on Highway 14 and passed a 2014 Mazda sedan driven by Keith L. Schenck, 64, of Washougal in a no-passing zone near 32nd Street, striking his vehicle in the process and then again “brake checking” in front of him, causing Schenck’s car to strike Hayes’ car.
A passenger in Schenck’s car, Mariah L. Schenck, 29, of Washougal was examined at the scene.
Keith Schenck was injured and taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. He was released from the hospital on Tuesday, according to his daughter.
Court records say he suffered a fractured sternum.
Troopers said drugs or alcohol are believed to have played a role in Hayes’ alleged erratic driving.
They obtained search warrants to draw his blood; the samples have been submitted to the WSP toxicology lab, according to the affidavit.
