Darrell G. Shoote, 58, of Vancouver was killed in the collision in the early hours Sunday

A 58-year-old Vancouver man was killed in a collision early Sunday morning that led to the arrest of 39-year-old Neios Soien.

On Sunday (Dec. 11) at about 1:42 a.m., a Vancouver Police Department (VPD) officer attempted a traffic stop on a suspected impaired driver, who was driving westbound on East 18^th Street near General Anderson Ave. The vehicle, a 2008 Nissan Pathfinder, failed to yield for several blocks and maintained normal speeds before suddenly accelerating away from the VPD officer. 

The VPD officer did not continue the attempt to stop the vehicle and continued at normal speeds. The Nissan continued at a high rate of speed when the VPD officer observed the vehicle approaching E 18th Street and Brandt Road several hundred yards ahead.

The intersection at East 18th Street and Brandt Road is a four-way stop controlled by stop signs. A second vehicle, a 2003 Honda Accord, entered the intersection driving southbound ahead of the Nissan. The Nissan appeared to fail to stop at the stop sign prior to entering the intersection. The Nissan crashed into the driver’s side of the other vehicle in a “T-bone” style collision. 

The VPD officer reached the collision and saw the driver of the Pathfinder exiting the driver’s seat of the vehicle and attempting to flee on foot.  The suspect was caught and detained by VPD officers. Other VPD officers arrived at the crash scene around that time and found the driver of the Honda was deceased. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Traffic Homicide Unit was called to respond and completed the on-scene collision investigation.

The deceased driver of the Honda was identified as Darrell G. Shoote, 58, of Vancouver.  

The suspected driver of the Nissan was identified at Neios Soien, 39, of Vancouver. Soien was transported to the hospital due to the severity of the collision. Officers determined that Soien showed signs of impairment. 

In Washington state, if a person is killed in a crash that was caused by another person driving under the influence it becomes a Vehicular Homicide.  

After clearance from the hospital, Soien was booked into the Clark County Jail on charges of Vehicular Homicide, Hit and Run – Death, DUI, DWLS III, and Driving without an Ignition Interlock Device.  

The CCSO Traffic Homicide Unit is leading the investigation.

Information provided by Clark County Sheriff’s Office and Vancouver Police Department.