Update: Female killed in single-vehicle collision near Battle Ground identified

The deceased passenger in the involved vehicle was identified as 22-year-old Vancouver resident Samantha K. Smith.

An adult female was killed and two others were transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries after a single-car collision early Tuesday morning in Venersborg. 

On Tuesday (Nov. 9) at about 2:30 a.m., EMS personnel and Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the report of a collision involving a vehicle and a tree, in the 21500 block of NE Risto Road located in the Venersborg area, southeast of Battle Ground.  

Upon arrival, EMS personnel began providing aid to the occupants of a red Mazda sedan.  One of the three occupants, an adult female, was pronounced dead at the scene.  The two other occupants, adult males, were extricated from the wrecked vehicle and transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The CCSO Traffic Unit was called to the scene.  Roadway evidence indicated that the Mazda was eastbound on Risto Road at a high rate of speed when it left the roadway and collided with a large tree.  Excessive speed was a definite factor in this collision, which remains under investigation.

On Wednesday (Nov. 10), the deceased passenger in the involved vehicle was identified as Samantha K. Smith, age 22. Smith was a resident of Vancouver.  The injured driver was identified as Joseph Manson, age 21, of Vancouver.  The injured passenger was identified as Issiah Blocker, age 21, of Battle Ground.

Risto Road was closed for approximately seven hours, causing morning commuter and school bus traffic to divert.  The roadway is now open.

Information provided by Clark County Sheriff’s Office.