Vancouver man dies week after rear-end crash

A Vancouver man injured in a rear-end, rush-hour crash last week died late Sunday night, according to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center.

The man, Richard D. Kelly, 63, was one of two people injured in a crash on state Highway 500 near Interstate 205 just minutes after 5 p.m. Nov. 3, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The crash occurred when Stephen Lemm, 60, of Vancouver was merging a silver Audi onto eastbound Highway 500 from northbound I-205 in heavy traffic and struck the rear end of a car, triggering a chain reaction that ultimately involved four vehicles, troopers said.

Lemm was ticketed for following too closely, the state patrol reported.

Lemm is not facing criminal charges because there were no criminal components, such as speeding or intoxicants, involved in the incident, Trooper Dave Bourland said.

The investigation into the crash will continue, however, and will include the results of an autopsy, he said.