Top Stories: Surprise PeaceHealth medical bill; I-5 closure; body cam video in shooting released

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1. Surprise – it’s $4,178 more: Couple struggle with unexpected hospital bill, hope for more transparency from systems

Nicci Silva was five months pregnant when she began having heart palpitations on a late October night in 2022. She and her husband, Aynsley, didn’t think twice before visiting the nearest urgent care clinic.

Urgent care could not help, and the Silvas were encouraged to visit the nearest emergency department instead: PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver. What they expected to be a short checkup to ensure Nicci Silva and the baby’s safety turned into an eight-hour visit — one that ended with almost $10,000 in medical bills, including an unexpected charge of $4,178 from PeaceHealth.

• Silva family hit with unexpected charge of $4,178 from PeaceHealth

2. I-5 closure in Portland over weekend will cause issues with Clark County traffic

The full closure of Interstate 5 just south of downtown Portland this weekend could snarl traffic as far north as Vancouver.

Drivers should expect long delays and big backups, especially along I-5, throughout the weekend.

• Drivers should expect long delays, big backups on I-5 that could spill onto I-205
• More traffic woes: Hood River – White Salmon Bridge closed indefinitely after crash

3. Vancouver police video shows assault suspect holding apparent gun and a knife as officers shoot him

Police body camera and in-car video shows a man pull what appears to be a gun from his pocket immediately before four Vancouver police officers fatally shot him June 17 in central Vancouver.

In a video compilation released Tuesday by Vancouver police, the man, identified last week as Jonathan West Nelson, seems to shout “I’m ready to die” as a police K-9 runs at him. When the dog bites Nelson, he can be seen pulling out an apparent gun with his right hand before nearby officers quickly shoot him. The footage also shows Nelson clutching what appears to be a knife in his left hand.

• Fatal police shooting in central Vancouver was the second such shooting in June
• Related: Four Vancouver police officers identified in early morning fatal shooting on Andresen Road

4. Vancouver woman killed in boating accident on Willamette River

A Vancouver woman was killed Saturday on the Willamette River in Portland, according to an online fundraiser.

The Multnomah County, Ore., Sheriff’s Office identified the woman as 24-year-old Kaileigh Amor Seidel.

• Seidel died at OHSU Hospital
• Update: Investigation into Vancouver woman’s death in Willamette River boat crash continues

5. English Estate Winery owner says she had about a week’s notice before First Street construction shut down traffic

Summer is normally a busy time of year for English Estate Winery in east Vancouver. But this year, road construction directly in front of the winery means customers don’t realize they can still access the business.

The winery sits at 17806 S.E. First St. As motorists approach from either direction, signs indicate the road is closed, reinforced by the appearance of large construction equipment or mounds of earth.

• Winery’s peak season clashes with road work season, though winery remains open