Vancouver man appears in court in I-5 Bridge crash

UPDATE: Mr. Selby’s case was exonerated in Clark County Superior Court and was referred to the Vancouver City Attorney’s Office for review of charges Jan. 23. He was ordered to appear in Clark County District Court for driving under the influence, court records show.

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The suspected drunk driver in a Saturday afternoon crash on the Interstate 5 Bridge denied consuming any alcohol before driving but refused to take a preliminary breath test, court records show. A passenger who was injured in the crash was treated and released from an area hospital.

Jordan T. Selby, 28, of Vancouver appeared Monday in Clark County Superior Court to face an allegation of vehicular assault.

Washington State Patrol troopers responded about 2:45 p.m. to a single-vehicle crash southbound on the Interstate 5 Bridge, just north of the Oregon border. The black Ford F-150 pickup had struck the left guardrail, careened across all three lanes and struck the right guardrail. It lost its right rear tire in the crash, according to a probable cause affidavit. The truck came to rest blocking the right lane of the bridge.

The driver, identified as Selby, was standing outside the pickup when troopers arrived. He reportedly smelled strongly of alcohol, and his eyes were bloodshot and watery, the affidavit states.

Selby told troopers he was driving from his house when he lost his tire and crossed the highway, where he struck the barrier, court records said.

He denied drinking any alcohol before driving but refused to take a preliminary breath test. He was arrested for DUI, and while being transported, urinated in the backseat of the patrol car, according to court documents.

His passenger, Brittany N. Reid, 28, of Happy Valley, Ore., was taken to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland for serious injuries. She was barely responsive, troopers said, and she told them that she couldn’t feel her legs, the affidavit states.

A hospital spokeswoman said Reid was treated and released.

During Selby’s hearing, his bail was set at $10,000. He will retain his own attorney. Selby will be arraigned Feb. 2.