The Castle Rock Police Department issued a news release March 5 addressing its involvement in a multi-county chase that ended when the suspect’s vehicle — which contained a 14-month-old child — jumped an Interstate 5 barrier in Centralia and landed on its top in the opposite lane.
The release, posted to the department’s Facebook page, came two days after the incident. The Chronicle had previously requested comment from the department on March 4.
According to the department, an officer located the suspect’s vehicle near Delameter Road in Castle Rock at about 10:30 a.m. March 3, after receiving notice that the vehicle had eluded a Washington State Patrol (WSP) trooper northbound on Interstate 5.
“The officer activated his emergency lights in an attempt to stop the vehicle but it continued at a high rate of speed north on West Side Highway,” the department stated.
Police continued to pursue onto South Military Road, crossing into Lewis County, before turning onto state Route 505 and then northbound I-5, where speeds reportedly topped 125 mph.
The collision occurred near milepost 81 in Centralia at about 10:49 a.m. when the suspect’s vehicle, a 2014 Nissan Altima, struck the rear of the Ford F-450 in front of it, which caused the Altima to hit the center Jersey barrier, according to WSP.
Castle Rock police indicated the Nissan actually collided with the side of the F-450.
“The vehicle then jumped onto the divider and flipped over, landing in the southbound lanes of I-5,” the department stated.
Video released by the Washington Department of Transportation shows the aftermath of the collision, as the Altima emerges from a cloud of debris as it spins and slides on its top in the southbound lane, somehow avoiding impact with two vehicles driving in the opposite direction.
Both vehicles travelling southbound are seen pulling to the right to dodge the overturned Altima before it comes to rest blocking the entire lane.
According to Castle Rock police, the Nissan slid approximately 400 feet.
The driver, Marc-Anthony D. Houston, 20, of Kent, and a passenger, Darius J. Robertson, 20, of Auburn, then fled the vehicle, leaving behind a woman and child in the car, police said.
“The presence of the baby in the car during the pursuit was unknown to law enforcement,” the release stated.
Remarkably, the child — who was without a car seat inside the fleeing vehicle, according to WSP — went uninjured.
A photo taken by a citizen after the vehicle had stopped shows one officer holding the child while another kneels behind the woman sitting on the ground just outside the vehicle.
“Both males were apprehended a short time later,” the release stated.
According to police, the woman, Uleyja Hale, 19, of Kent, was also arrested.
“All three individuals were medically treated following the pursuit and booked into Cowlitz County jail on multiple charges,” the release stated. “The baby was also cleared of any injury and turned over to CPS (Child Protective Services) for custody.”
WSP reported that all occupants were transported to Providence Centralia Hospital following the incident. Houston and Hale were treated for undisclosed injuries.
Troopers indicated drugs or alcohol had been involved, and wrote that none of the occupants — including the child — were wearing seat belts.
Responding agencies included the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, WSP and Centralia Police Department, according to Castle Rock police.
The driver Houston struck prior to colliding with the barrier, Jeffrey C. Barnes, 51, of Tenino, sustained no injuries, according to troopers. Barnes was wearing a seatbelt.
Troopers said a 2013 Honda Accord traveling in the southbound lane was damaged from debris caused by the Altima’s collision with the barrier.
Its driver, David K. Hansen, 76, and passenger, Debra A. Hansen, 71, of Fox Island, were uninjured. Both were wearing seatbelts.
According to Centralia police, the collision led to significant traffic delays on I-5 and congestion along the side streets of Centralia. Mellen Street was temporarily turned into a one-way street.
Court records show Houston was scheduled for a preliminary appearance in Cowlitz County Superior Court on March 4 for potential charges including attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, obstructing a public servant, resisting arrest, reckless endangerment, hit-and-run and third-degree driving with a suspended or revoked license.
Houston reportedly posted $75,000 in bail and is scheduled for an arraignment on March 12.
