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News / Clark County News

Portland man suspected of stealing truck from good Samaritan, causing three-vehicle crash in east Vancouver

By Brianna Murschel, Columbian staff reporter
Published: January 21, 2025, 3:08pm
2 Photos
The Vancouver fire and police departments responded to a head-on, three-vehicle traffic crash Monday on Mill Plain in east Vancouver.
The Vancouver fire and police departments responded to a head-on, three-vehicle traffic crash Monday on Mill Plain in east Vancouver. (Contributed by Vancouver Fire Department) Photo Gallery

A truck taken in a suspected carjacking in the Salmon Creek area north of Vancouver later crashed into two other cars on Southeast Mill Plain Boulevard on Monday afternoon, according to Vancouver police.

Authorities started getting reports about a person jumping in front of cars around 1 p.m. at the intersection of Northeast 139th Street and 20th Avenue, according to a post on the department’s Instagram account.

A driver got out of his truck to check on the person, who then shoved the driver down, got into the truck and drove off, according to Vancouver police.

About an hour later, the Vancouver Fire Department responded to a head-on three-vehicle crash. According to Vancouver police, the driver suspected of stealing the truck was eastbound on Mill Plain Boulevard near 168th Avenue and crossed into the westbound lanes, hitting a Honda Odyssey head-on. The Honda was pushed into a BMW 330XI.

The person tried to flee the scene but was stopped by a bystander.

Law enforcement officers arrested Joseph D. Chappue, 56, of Portland on suspicion of first-degree robbery and theft of a motor vehicle. He was scheduled to appear in Clark County Superior Court this afternoon and again on Wednesday for additional allegations.

Two passengers from the Honda were taken to a hospital with serious injuries. The BMW driver had minor injuries.

The suspect was treated for minor injuries, according to Vancouver Police Department spokeswoman Kim Kapp.

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