Ryan Tkachenko, 20, was hospitalized after the Sunday evening crash in Ridgefield
A 20-year-old Battle Ground motorcyclist suffered traumatic injuries after allegedly racing past a Washington State Patrol trooper and crashing in Ridgefield on Sunday evening.
According to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Ryan Tkachenko passed the trooper while traveling at a high rate of speed near Hazel Dell on northbound Interstate 5 at around 7 p.m.
Minutes later, the trooper came upon the scene of a collision at the intersection of NE 179th Street and NE 10th Avenue in Ridgefield and quickly recognized the motorcycle involved.
“The motorcyclist had apparently exited the freeway at NE 179th Street and entered the intersection of NE10th Avenue against a red light,” according to a press release from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. “A westbound Chevrolet pickup was struck by the motorcycle in the intersection.”
Emergency responders were immediately summoned. Tkachenko was taken to a nearby hospital with what the sheriff’s office described as “traumatic injuries.” His current condition is unknown, according to the sheriff’s office.
The driver of the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck involved in the crash, identified as 36-year-old Ridgefield resident Zachary Byers, sustained a minor injury and refused medical treatment at the scene.
“Due to the severity of the injuries to the motorcyclist, the CCSO Traffic Unit was called to the scene and is investigating,” the sheriff’s office reported Sunday night. “At this point, significant speed and failure to obey a traffic control device on the part of the motorcyclist (traffic signal) are contributing causes to this collision. The collision remains under investigation.”
Tkachenko was riding a 2007 Yamaha YZFR6 motorcycle at the time of the crash.
