Man arrested on allegations of vehicular homicide in Aug. 2 crash in east Clark County
May 13-Clark County sheriff's deputies have arrested a 19-year-old man in connection with a high-speed crash that killed his 18-year-old passenger in August 2025 in rural east Clark County.
Matthew Kenne surrendered to detectives Tuesday at the Clark County Jail. He was booked on allegations of vehicular homicide and minor in possession of alcohol, according to the Clark County Sheriff's Office.
Kenne was scheduled to appear on the allegations Wednesday afternoon in Clark County Superior Court.
His arrest follows a monthslong investigation into the Aug. 2 crash that killed Nicholas Ortiz.
Investigators determined Kenne was driving a 2013 Jeep Patriot between 67 and 72 mph on Northeast Reilly Road when he failed to navigate a curve. The vehicle veered off the road and struck a large tree, according to the sheriff's office.
Ortiz was found unresponsive in the passenger's seat and died at the scene, despite resuscitation efforts by first responders.
Investigators said toxicology results confirmed Kenne's blood-alcohol concentration was above 0.08. In Washington, a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 is considered evidence of drunken driving.
Kenne was not immediately arrested after the crash, pending the results of a state laboratory analysis. Detectives used electronic vehicle data and evidence found inside the Jeep to build their case.
The Clark County Sheriff's Office Traffic Homicide Unit led the investigation with assistance from the Camas Police Department and the Camas-Washougal Fire Department.
Unlock all stories. Stay informed.
Starting at just $1.99/week
Become a subscriber and get unlimited access to every story, plus our ePaper and app for seamless reading anywhere. Stay informed, support local journalism, and stay connected to your community.
Subscribe today
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 5:55 PM.