Four people injured when car ends up partially submerged in Boulder Creek

Four people were injured when a vehicle went off the road and ended up partially submerged in Boulder Creek near the Jones Creek trailhead in rural Clark County northeast of Washougal, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded shortly before midnight Wednesday to a report of a serious crash on Northeast Boulder Creek Road, according to a statement from the agency. The report came from one of the passengers. The caller said they were “covered in blood” and at least one unconscious person was in the Mitsubishi Lancer sedan.

Deputies found the vehicle down an embankment, partially in Boulder Creek, with two passengers still inside, according to the statement. The deputies helped extricate the passengers who were evaluated by EMS at the scene.

According to the sheriff’s office investigation, the Lancer was westbound on Boulder Creek Road with four people in it when the car left the road, went down the embankment and stopped partially in the creek.

The driver has been identified as Ryan Shepherd, 23, of Vancouver, according to the statement, which said Shepherd showed signs of impairment at the crash scene. A search warrant was executed for a sample of Shepherd’s blood to test for impairment.

All four people in the vehicle were taken to area hospitals with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.

This case remains active pending further investigation by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division and Traffic Homicide Unit.