A25-8875 Pursuit Investigation (Photo) -04/15/25

A25-8875

PURSUIT INVESTIGATION – KELSO, WASHINGTON

APRIL 15, 2025

 

 

At about 2345 hours of April 14, 2025, a deputy sheriff with the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office stopped a Mercedes SUV on Tennant Way in Longview for not having license plates.  As the deputy began to exit their vehicle, the SUV sped away from the traffic stop at a high rate of speed.  Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle as it drove erratically, turning its lights on and off, and traveling at speeds over 100 MPH on I-5.

 

The vehicle eventually drove through the Allen St area of Kelso near the SummerWind Apartments, where it veered off the road and crashed.  The driver was found to have a serious head wound.  There were no passengers in the vehicle.  Deputies detected an odor of alcohol and cannabis coming from the vehicle. 

 

The driver was extricated and transported to St John Medical Center, where they were later pronounced deceased due to an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Deputies recovered a stolen firearm from the vehicle.  The driver was not the registered owner of the vehicle, and deputies were unable to locate the registered owner to confirm the vehicle’s status.  The driver’s identity is being withheld until next of kin notifications are made.

 

This is an active investigation; no further details are available at this time.

 

 

Troy Brightbill

Chief Criminal Deputy

Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office