Washougal man misses court date for May crash

An arrest warrant was issued Tuesday for a Washougal man who was allegedly driving under the influence, speeding and fleeing a pursuing police car when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a tree, seriously injuring two passengers.

Andrey V. Altman, 23, was scheduled to appear Tuesday afternoon in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of vehicular assault, attempting to elude police, forgery, reckless driving, DUI and first-degree driving with a suspended or revoked license. However, he was not present when his case was called at about 2:30 p.m., and a warrant was issued.

At about 9 p.m. on May 10, Altman was driving a silver Infiniti west in the 100 block of Southeast Columbia Way when he passed a vehicle at high speed. A police patrol car attempted to stop Altman, but he failed to yield and fled. A speed analysis found he was traveling 77 mph in a 25 mph zone, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Altman eventually lost control of his vehicle and struck a tree. One passenger was ejected, police said. All four occupants of the vehicle were taken to an area hospital. Two passengers sustained significant injuries, the affidavit states.

The passengers were identified as three Vancouver residents: Vyacheslav Fistikan, then 26, Albert Idigov, then 20, and a 17-year-old girl.

Fistikan sustained lacerations and required stitches to his face, scalp and arm. The girl had several fractures, including her spine and sternum, and internal injuries to her kidney, court records said.

Police said Altman didn’t have license plates and was in possession of an expired trip permit, according to court documents. Toxicology results later found he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.11 percent, the affidavit said. In Washington, a level of 0.08 percent is considered evidence of impaired driving.