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Man, 21, in court following police pursuit

Passenger jumped out of moving vehicle; speeds reached over 100 mph

By Jessica Prokop, Columbian Local News Editor
Published: October 26, 2015, 6:10pm

A man who allegedly led Washington State Patrol troopers on a high-speed chase early Saturday morning, prompting a passenger to leap from his moving vehicle, made a first appearance Monday in Clark County Superior Court.

Kenny R. Christensen, 21, appeared on suspicion of unlawful imprisonment, attempting to elude police, reckless driving and third-degree driving with a suspended license in connection with the early-morning incident on Interstate 205 and Interstate 5.

According to a probable cause affidavit, a trooper attempted to stop Christensen shortly before 12:15 a.m. for traveling 78 mph in a 60 mph zone on I-205 northbound near Milepost 30. Christensen allegedly refused to stop, sped off — reaching speeds of more than 100 mph — and swerved at multiple vehicles to get troopers to end the pursuit.

Christensen then drove onto I-5 and exited at a rest area, where troopers terminated the pursuit because of a threat to public safety, court records said.

He allegedly sped through the rest area, driving over the sidewalk and through the grass, before getting back onto I-5. A female passenger jumped from Christensen’s vehicle and sustained injuries to her face during her escape, according to the affidavit.

Troopers resumed the chase on northbound I-5, where it again reached speeds of more than 100 mph. Christensen allegedly swerved at other vehicles and tried to trick officers into thinking he was going to exit the freeway. He eventually surrendered after leaving the freeway at Milepost 22 in Woodland and then attempting to get back on, court documents said. He was arrested.

Christensen’s passenger, who was taken to a local hospital, told troopers she had begged him to stop, but he refused. She said she kept putting her hands out the window to let troopers know she wanted out of the vehicle, court records said.

On Monday, Judge David Gregerson appointed Diane Sweet to represent Christensen and set his bail at $40,000, according to court documents.

Christensen is scheduled to be arraigned Friday.

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