Witnesses say one vehicle failed to stop for the posted stop sign at the intersection
Editor’s note: This story was updated on Wed., July 31 with the names of the drivers and other details.
BATTLE GROUND — Early Monday (July 29) morning, Fire, EMS and Clark County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the intersection of NE 199th Street and NE 167th Avenue in Battle Ground to a two-car collision that Clark County Sheriff’s Office officials termed as “serious.’’
CRESA 9-1-1 received calls that there was a two-car collision at the location with injuries. Upon arrival, EMS personnel administered aid to 17-year-old Dennis Marchenko, of Battle Ground, who was unconscious and suffering from severe injuries. A second driver, 53-year-old Tania Kohlman of Brush Prairie, was conscious and alert.
Witness interviews and scene evidence indicated that an orange Mazda sedan, driven by Kohlman, was traveling eastbound on NE 199th Street and failed to stop for the posted stop sign at the intersection. The Mazda collided with a blue Volkswagen sedan that was southbound and in the intersection.
Marchenko was driving the blue Volkswagen. Severe damage to the vehicles indicated that the Mazda was traveling at a sustained speed at the time of the collision.
This intersection is located in a rural area of Clark County, just outside of the Battle Ground city limits. It is controlled from four directions by stop signs and red flashing lights.
Both drivers of the vehicles were transported to an area hospital. The CCSO Traffic Unit is investigating the collision.
On Wed., July 31, a release from the CCSO indicated the first responding deputy to arrive at the collision witnessed Kohlman attempting to leave the scene and detained her. Kohlman did not cooperate with the deputy’s initial investigation, and the deputy observed signs of possible impairment on the part of Kohlman. Kohlman was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries, and for observation due to the significant crash forces. A warrant was authored for a sample of her blood for examination by the State Toxicology Lab. She was released at the hospital, and no formal charges were filed, pending the completion of the collision investigation and lab analysis.
Information provided by Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
