Teenager in critical condition after crash in Hockinson

A 17-year-old driver, who deputies say was not wearing a seat belt, is in critical condition after the teen was ejected from an SUV during a crash Friday morning in Hockinson.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Clark County Fire District 3 and AMR responded at 9:49 a.m. to the 16000 block of Northeast 159th Street for a single-vehicle crash. Emergency responders found a 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee in a ditch along the road. The driver was found next to the Jeep, in the road, according to a sheriff’s office news release.

Investigators determined the driver lost control of the Jeep, and it left the roadway and rolled, the news release states. Authorities did not identify the driver.

The teen was taken to a local hospital and was in critical condition as of Friday afternoon, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office reminds people of the importance of wearing seat belts. The agency said this was the third injury or fatal crash in the past 10 days in Clark County involving drivers who weren’t wearing seat belts and who were ejected from their vehicles.

The sheriff’s office’s traffic unit is investigating the crash.