Woman ejected from vehicle in fatal Vancouver freeway crash

A woman fleeing police was ejected from her vehicle and killed Tuesday morning in a rollover crash near the Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 split.

A Washington State Patrol trooper attempted to pull over a white 2005 Mitsubishi Endeavor about 9:40 a.m. on southbound I-5 at Milepost 17 for speeding, according to Trooper Will Finn.

The SUV failed to stop and sped off, however, weaving through light traffic, and drove on the shoulder of the freeway in an attempt to elude the trooper, Sgt. Stephen Robley told The Columbian.

The driver continued to flee until the I-5 junction, where she lost control of the vehicle. The SUV left the roadway, traveled through the grassy median between I-205 and I-5, and rolled before striking a large tree, Finn said. It came to rest on its top.

Finn said the driver was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives are working with the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office to identify the driver.

The Mitsubishi had been reported stolen earlier that morning to the Milton Police Department, Finn said. The vehicle was totaled in the crash and towed from the scene.

Finn said the crash remains under investigation. It is unknown if the driver was impaired.

The left lane of southbound I-205 at Milepost 37 was closed for about 4½ hours.

Assistant metro editor Jessica Prokop contributed to this report.