Driver in fatal crash is identified

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office on Friday released the name of the driver of the stolen car who died after a Wednesday crash.

Ricky Smith, 34, of Vancouver died in the hospital Wednesday night.

A deputy spotted the stolen Honda Prelude around 8 p.m. and attempted to make a stop at Northeast 102nd Avenue and Fourth Plain Road.

Instead, the car sped off; the deputy chose not to pursue it.

The car was found a few minutes later, crashed into a wall on the east side of Northeast Covington Road. The driver was inside and unconscious.

Andrew Coffancy, 34, of Vancouver — identified Friday as having been a passenger in the car on — had two broken legs and was sitting in the back seat, the sheriff’s office said.

The two were taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, where Smith died.

Investigators believe the driver took the turn at Covington and 102nd Avenue too fast, crossed an oncoming lane, went onto a sidewalk, destroyed a fire hydrant, crossed Covington and hit the stone wall.

Names were withheld for a few days while deputies attempted to notify family.

The sheriff’s Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating.