A Chehalis man is facing vehicular assault, driving with a suspended license and attempting to elude a pursuing police officer charges in Lewis County Superior Court after he and another motorcyclist allegedly drove recklessly on Highway 603, fled from an officer attempting to pull them over and then crashed into each other on West Washington Street on Sunday.
A Napavine police officer reportedly observed the two motorcycles, each driven by a single rider, traveling in front of him just after 5:45 p.m. on July 23, according to court documents.
The officer reportedly saw each motorcycle cross the center line and fog lines multiple times and attempt to pass in a non-passing zone while he was driving behind them, according to court documents. At one point, he reportedly “observed one of the riders put both their legs on the left side of the motorcycle while still in motion” and saw the other rider “lift their feet in the air in an unsafe posture while driving,” according to court documents.
Eventually, the officer activated his vehicle’s lights and siren to signal both drivers to pull over, but “after a short period of time, the motorcycle drivers began to speed up,” according to court documents.
Both drivers reportedly passed multiple vehicles before turning left from Highway 603 onto West Washington Street. During the turn, one of the motorcyclists, identified in court documents as Joshua Keith Sanford, 25, of Chehalis, allegedly collided into the other motorcycle. Both drivers were ejected from their motorcycles and landed on the ground, according to court documents.
Medical aid was dispatched to the scene and both motorcyclists were transported to a local hospital. Sanford sustained minor injuries to his arms and was medically cleared while the other motorcyclist was admitted to the hospital, where X-rays determined “her back was broken with shattered vertebrae,” according to court documents.
When questioned by law enforcement, Sanford allegedly “apologized to (the other driver) if he caused the collision” and was allegedly “vague in answering if he knew there was a police officer trying to stop him.” The other motorcyclist allegedly “admitted she knew there was a police officer trying to stop her,” according to court documents.
Sanford was booked into the Lewis County Jail just after 9:45 p.m. on July 23 and has since been charged with one count each of vehicular assault, attempting to elude a pursuing police officer and third-degree driving with a suspended/revoked license.
Due to a DUI on Sanford’s criminal record and the nature of the allegations, Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher asked Judge James Lawler to set Sanford’s bail at $50,000 during a preliminary hearing on Monday.
“We certainly think the defendant presents a risk to other motorists,” Meagher said Monday.
Lawler granted Meagher’s bail request and scheduled an arraignment hearing for Thursday, July 27.
Lawler did grant defense attorney Rachael Tiller’s request to allow Sanford to have contact with the other motorcyclist, who she identified as his significant other, as long as the two don’t discuss the case.
The second motorcyclist was not facing charges in Lewis County Superior Court related to the incident as of Tuesday.
