New Briefs for Aug. 1, 2019

Camas woman killed in Vancouver crash

A Camas woman died in a July 26 east Vancouver traffic crash that also killed a Vancouver motorcyclist.

Renee L. Unell, 50, of Camas died of multiple blunt-force injuries in the crash. According to a news release from the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office, Unell was driving a 2005 BMW X5 that was struck by two motorcycles. One of the motorcyclists, Matthew L. Stevens, 23, of Vancouver, also was killed in the crash.

According to the Vancouver Police Department, which is investigating the crash, speed and alcohol consumed by the motorcyclists appear to be factors in the crash.

Police said the motorcyclists were traveling west on Northeast 18th Street around 11:45 p.m., Friday, July 26, when they struck Unell’s vehicle, which was headed south on Northeast 187th Avenue and making a lefthand turn.

Unell was pronounced dead at the scene. An 8-year-old passenger in Unell’s vehicle suffered minor injuries.

Stevens also was pronounced dead at the scene. The second motorcyclist was treated for minor injuries and had not been identified as of this newspaper’s print deadline.

According to a GoFundMe set up for Unell’s family, the 8-year-old in the crash was Unell’s daughter, Kaia.

The GoFundMe site says the accident happened two years and one day after the death of Kaia’s father, Ed. Unell is survived by Kaia, as well as her two older children, Shaelyn, 20, and Nick, 23, according to the GoFundMe, which is set up to help the family members relocate, pay for education expenses and receive therapy. The GoFundme can be found at gofundme.com/f/help-cam as-unell-kids-nick-shaelyn-and-kaia.

Port to host open house Aug. 7

The Port of Camas-Washougal will host an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7 at its office, 24 A St., Washougal.

The event will feature project updates from the Port, Washington Department of Transportation and cities of Camas and Washougal, and a presentation from Roy Kim of RKm Development, the Port’s lead developer for its waterfront project.

The Port is asking community members to help decide which of the three waterfront project designs Camas-Washougal residents like the best.

Portland man’s body recovered from Washougal River

The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office last week identified a body recovered from the Washougal River as Stephen Barnaby, 31, of Portland.

In May, Barnaby and a companion were floating the river when they were swept into the fast-moving current and fell off their inner tubes. Emily McCauley, 28, of Portland became trapped in some debris and rocks below the water. She was rescued, but Barnaby was not found.

Clark County sheriff’s deputies responded about 7 p.m. Monday to the 38700 block of Northeast Washougal River Road. Deputies and a Clark County Fire District 6 technical rescue team removed a body from the river, east of the Southeast Vernon Road bridge.

The medical examiner concluded that Barnaby accidentally drowned in the river.

Clark County Sheriff’s Office reports fraudulent phone calls

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office has recently received numerous reports of fraudulent phone calls being derived from the telephone number of or similar to 360-397-2211.

Although this phone number is associated with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, the callers are telling the recipients that they have a warrant or other fines associated with their names. The caller commonly advises the recipient that they must pay money via gift cards to prevent arrest or further legal action. The callers often will not allow the recipient to hang up, and want to maintain telephone contact the entire time, while requesting the recipients of the phone call travel to obtain the gift cards and then provide the information over the phone to the caller, who is impersonating a deputy, detective, or other law enforcement officer.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office does not collect any fines, fees or funds associated with legal matters via the telephone or online. The Sheriff’s Office encourages those receiving these calls from a deputy or officer advising of a warrant or other legal matter to validate the caller by contacting 311 or visiting in-person at the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, 707 W. 13th St., Vancouver.