Vancouver Police Investigate Fatality Collision
September 17, 2025
Update 9/19: This evening, Vancouver Police were notified that the child involved in this incident has died. No further updates are anticipated.
Update 9/18: The Vancouver Police Department released misinformation last night regarding the death of the child involved in this incident.
There was miscommunication on behalf of officers and responders at the scene who did not conduct proper consultation with medical personnel at the hospital prior to the information release.
As of this release, the child remains in critical condition. Vancouver police have been in contact with numerous family members of the child regarding the inaccuracy of the information we released.
We are deeply sorry for any distress this error has caused. The Vancouver Police Department is saddened to report the child who was critically injured has died.
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The suspect, James H. Paulson, has been booked into the Clark County Jail for two counts of Vehicular Homicide and one count of DUI.
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On September 17, 2025, at around 1:20 p.m., Vancouver Police responded to the 6400 block of NE 137th Avenue for the report that a man and a child (father and son) who were walking, were hit by a vehicle. The man was found lying in the roadway when emergency responders arrived; he did not survive his injuries. The child, 6 years old, was found in a ditch approximately 10 feet from the crash site. He was transported to Randall Children’s Hospital in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
The driver, 73 years old, was located at the scene by police and was arrested for 2 counts of Vehicular Homicide. Reckless driving and speed are factors in the crash as well as possible impairment.
The Vancouver Police Department Traffic Unit is continuing the investigation. Nothing further is releasable at this time.