CCSO Traffic Unit investigating fatal collision on NE Highway 99

The deceased driver has been identified as Kimberly Butler, age 56, of Vancouver

On Thursday (March 27) at about 1:05 p.m., Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputies along with responders from Clark County Fire District 6 (FD6) and American Medical Response (AMR) responded to a two-vehicle collision in the 9000 Block of NE Highway 99 in Clark County.

Callers to 9-1-1 reported one of the vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed prior to impact with the other vehicle. Callers stated that after the collision one of the vehicles continued into a power pole at the SW corner of the intersection with power lines down in the street. Clark Public Utilities District (PUD) was called to the scene for the downed power lines.

Responders arrived at a chaotic scene with more than 20 bystanders standing around the two involved vehicles that had blocked the southbound lanes of NE Highway 99. The female driver of a Toyota Camry was unresponsive but breathing, and responders attended to her. She has been identified as Kimberly Butler, age 56, of Vancouver.

Several bystanders on-scene identified the driver of the other vehicle, a Lexus RX400, who witnesses said initially attempted to flee the scene along with the two passengers from his vehicle. Bystanders kept the driver at the scene before CCSO arrived. Deputies began speaking with the driver who was identified as Diego Quintana, age 20, of Portland, OR.

Butler was transported to an area hospital where she was later pronounced deceased.

Detectives with the CCSO Traffic Homicide Unit were working in the area and some of the first responders to the scene.

Detectives learned from several witnesses that the Lexus was travelling at a high rate of speed that was estimated by several witnesses to be greater than 80 mph. That section of NE Highway 99 has a posted 40 mph speed limit. Witnesses and surveillance showed that there were also two other passengers in the Lexus. Detectives believed that Quintana may have been impaired. A Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) was called to the scene to evaluate Quintana.

Detectives continued the investigation and processed the collision scene.

Quintana was transported to an area medical center for evaluation and treatment. He remained in the hospital overnight and was released in the afternoon on Friday.

After release, Detectives booked Quintana into the Clark County Jail for Vehicular Homicide, Hit and Run- Resulting in a death, Driving Under the Influence, and Resisting Arrest charges.

The collision remains under investigation. Detectives and deputies spoke with many witnesses to the collision but are seeking the public’s assistance in locating more witnesses and in identifying the two passengers of the Lexus. If you can identify either of the persons pictured in this release or you are a witness that saw the collision or the Lexus, also pictured, driving on NE Highway 99 prior to the crash, and have not spoken with investigators, please contact Detective Patrick Spak at [email protected] or (564) 397-4597.

Information provided by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.