A 22-year-old Longview man faces multiple felony charges in Lewis County Superior Court following a Wednesday night collision on Interstate 5 that injured a woman and six children.

According to reporting by KLOG and The Chronicle, Ruslan S. Trenda was charged with vehicular assault and hit-and-run. He also faces gross misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment, reckless driving, and hit-and-run of an attended vehicle. The Washington State Patrol initially identified driving under the influence as a potential charge following the incident near Napavine.

Court documents state that Trenda allegedly fled the scene on foot after the collision. The driver of the other vehicle, 41-year-old Tara R. McIlmoil of La Grande, Oregon, was hospitalized at Providence Centralia Hospital with a fractured vertebra. Six children traveling in her vehicle, ranging in age from 6 to 16 years old, were also injured in the crash.

According to a probable cause affidavit cited by KLOG, Trenda told authorities he experienced a psychotic episode and had taken too much medication before driving, specifically mentioning Adderall and a sleeping medication. The affidavit further alleges that Trenda was involved in two separate hit-and-run collisions on Interstate 5 that same evening. The first occurred at approximately 10:40 p.m. near Exit 68, and the second occurred at Exit 72, which resulted in the injuries to McIlmoil and the children.

Trenda made a preliminary court appearance on Friday, August 7, and the court has scheduled him for an arraignment on August 13.

This case follows other recent regional court proceedings involving young drivers and serious traffic offenses. As previously reported on July 31, a trial is set for October for a 19-year-old Kelso resident charged with vehicular homicide in a separate incident.

Source: Longview Man Charged after Napavine Collision Injured Six Minors