Longview/Kelso Pursuit Ends With Driver Committing Suicide—Klog 100.7 News

The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a high-speed pursuit in Kelso and Longview last night ended with the driver committing suicide.

Chief Criminal Deputy Troy Brightbill reports that a deputy first stopped a Mercedes SUV on Tennant Way in Longview around 11:45 p.m. for not having license plates. As the deputy exited their vehicle to contact the driver, the SUV sped away at a high rate of speed. Deputies chased the vehicle as it drove erratically at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour on I-5.

The SUV eventually drove through the Allen Street area of Kelso, near the SummerWind Apartments, leaving the roadway and crashing. The driver was found to have suffered a serious head wound. Deputies also reported smelling alcohol and cannabis coming from inside the vehicle.

The driver was pulled from the wreck and transported by ambulance to St. John Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead due to an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

A stolen firearm was found in the SUV, and the driver was also discovered to not be the registered owner of the vehicle. Deputies have not yet been able to contact the registered owner to determine whether the vehicle was stolen.

The driver’s identity is being withheld until family members are notified of their death.