Deceased man identified as 35-year-old Nicholas A.W. Crown; Battle Ground man arrested and charged
A Sunday evening collision in Hockinson has resulted in the death of a Hockinson resident and the arrest of a 20-year-old Battle Ground resident according to reports from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO).
On Sunday (July 11) at 10:08 p.m., Clark County Fire District 3 personnel and CCSO deputies were dispatched to a two-vehicle collision in the 17200 block of NE 159th Street. Upon arrival, EMS personnel located both drivers of the involved vehicles.
The driver of the first vehicle, a silver 2009 Chevrolet HHR, did not appear to be suffering serious injury and was found walking around at the scene. The driver of the second car, a 1995 Toyota Camry, was inside the vehicle, which was on its top in the roadway. The driver of the Camry was unresponsive and was extricated by EMS personnel. Both drivers were transported to an area hospital.
The CCSO Traffic Unit was called to the scene to investigate. Scene evidence and vehicle positioning revealed to detectives that the Camry had made a right (eastbound) turn onto NE 159th Street from NE 172nd Avenue. The HHR had been traveling east on NE 159th Street and collided with the rear of the Camry at significant speed. The resulting collision caused both vehicles to leave the roadway, and the Camry to roll, coming to rest on its top in the middle of the roadway.
The driver of the HHR was identified as Jaxon L. Jondahl, age 20, of Battle Ground. The driver of the Camry was identified as Nicholas A.W. Crown, 35, of Hockinson. Both drivers were transported to an area hospital. Crown died of injuries suffered in the accident.
Due to the seriousness of Crown’s injuries, Jondahl was arrested at the hospital and booked into the CCSO Jail for one count of Vehicular Assault, with additional misdemeanor charges referred. Those charges will be updated now due to Crown’s death, according to a CCSO source.
Preliminarily, the proximate cause of the collision appears to be excessive speed (the posted speed limit on this portion of roadway is posted at 35 mph) and impairment on the part of Jondahl.
The collision remains under investigation. NE 159th Street was closed in the area of the collision for several hours, reopening a little after 4 a.m.
Information provided by Clark County Sheriff’s Office.