A Vancouver man is facing an allegation of attempted murder after police say he intentionally crashed his car into the motorcycle his son was riding, landing his son in the hospital.
Keith M. Altamirano, 52, appeared Thursday in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of first-degree attempted murder. At the prosecutor’s request, the judge also found probable cause for allegations of vehicular assault and hit-and-run resulting in injury.
The judge set his bail at $1.5 million, and he’s scheduled to be arraigned March 5.
Vancouver police responded about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday to a crash at the intersection of Southeast Evergreen Highway and Chelsea Avenue. Officers arrived to find a yellow Suzuki GSX motorcycle had crashed in the southwest corner of the intersection. They also saw a white Audi SQ5 about 10 feet north of the motorcycle, according to a probable cause affidavit.
They found the motorcyclist, identified as Christopher Altamirano, 27, on the ground with significant leg injuries. He was taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center for surgery. When officers checked in on him at the hospital the next day, they learned he was intubated and unconscious, and his leg would likely need to be amputated, court records state.
Officers said the Audi was abandoned at the crash scene, but the car was registered to Christopher Altamirano’s father, Keith Altamirano. The Audi had significant front-end damage, and part of its front bumper had come off, the affidavit states.
Investigators found long scrape marks and gouges leading from the motorcycle for about 300 feet. The scrapes also went over a curb and through a street sign, which had been sheared from its base. They said “the motorcycle hit the curb with enough force to break it apart,” according to the affidavit.
Police went to Keith Altamirano’s residence, about a half-mile east of the crash site. Officers said Keith Altamirano told them he was at work all day, and when he got home, he saw his son riding his motorcycle past his house. He said he yelled at his son to stop, but he didn’t. Keith Altamirano said he then saw a white car driving after his son, but he did not recognize the car as his Audi. He said he didn’t realize the Audi and Suzuki were missing from his driveway and garage, respectively, court records state.
Officers said Keith Altamirano told them he heard the crash and called 911. Investigators learned Keith Altamirano did call 911, but he did not give the dispatcher his name. He also told them he walked to the crash scene, realized his Audi was involved and saw his son being treated by medics. He said he didn’t think the crash was that serious, so he went home and did not speak to officers on scene, according to the affidavit.
Keith Altamirano told police his son was involved in selling drugs and that he believed his son had stolen thousands of dollars from him. But officers said Keith Altamirano had no evidence that was true, court records state.
On Wednesday, an officer received a voicemail from Keith Altamirano requesting his belongings from the Audi, including his wallet. Officers said he recounted a new version of events from the night of the crash, and at the end of the call said, “I hope he learns his lesson.” Officers said they believed he was referring to Christopher Altamirano, according to the affidavit.
Investigators also spoke with another relative who said they heard that Keith Altamirano ran over his son because he was upset with him, court records state.
Officers viewed dash camera video from the Audi that captured the crash. When Keith Altamirano met with officers again and learned they saw the dash video, he did not want to answer any more questions, according to court records.
When police arrested Keith Altamirano, they found he had nearly $10,000 in cash, two cellphones and a baggie with a large amount of crushed blue pills, the affidavit states.
