Driver loses consciousness on I-5 in Hazel Dell, collision ensues

A Vancouver man was in intensive care in a hospital’s cardiovascular unit Thursday night, several hours after he lost consciousness while driving on Interstate 5 near Hazel Dell and was hit by another vehicle.

James R. Spady, 56, suffered internal injuries in the crash, according to a bulletin from the Washington State Patrol.

He was listed in critical condition Thursday night at Southwest Washington Medical Center, a nursing supervisor said.

Spady’s passenger, Joan C. Battles, 88, of Vancouver suffered a fractured rib. She was in the emergency department at Southwest on Thursday night and her condition wasn’t available.

The other driver, 70-year-old Ralph B. Rhoads of Bellingham, was not reported injured.

About 2:45 p.m. Thursday, Spady was driving a 1997 Saturn north in the right lane about a mile north of 99th Street when, due to a medical condition, he lost consciousness, the bulletin said. The Saturn came to a near-stop in the second lane from the right and was rear-ended by a 1983 GMC van that Rhoads was driving in that lane.

The crash was caused by Spady’s medical problem and state troopers don’t plan to ticket him, the bulletin said.

John Branton: 360-735-4513 or john.branton@columbian.com.<I>