Ellensburg Man Arrested for Attempted Murder Following Stabbing and Highway Crash

A 20-year-old Ellensburg man was arrested on an attempted murder charge late Wednesday night after allegedly stabbing an acquaintance in the neck and subsequently crashing his getaway vehicle into a telephone pole.

At 10:13 p.m. on May 6, Kittitas County deputies were dispatched to a residence near milepost 16 on Vantage Highway. Upon arrival, they discovered a 20-year-old male victim suffering from a severe, heavily bleeding stab wound to the neck.

Initial reports indicated that the suspect, who was known to the victim, had already fled the scene in a black Nissan Altima.

While deputies were responding to the violent assault, Kittcom dispatch alerted them to a motor vehicle collision near milepost 8 on the same highway.

Law enforcement quickly arrived at the crash site to find a black Nissan Altima completely disabled after striking a telephone pole.

The driver of the vehicle, identified as 20-year-old Eduardo Salgado of Ellensburg, was promptly taken into custody.

The stabbing victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center for urgent treatment. As of the latest updates, his current medical condition remains unknown.

Salgado was evaluated by medics at the crash scene and transported to Kittitas Valley Healthcare to be treated for cuts on his hands.

While Salgado was receiving treatment at KVH, deputies obtained and served a search warrant for a blood draw to investigate possible impairment during the time of the incident.

Following his medical evaluation, Salgado was booked into the Kittitas County Jail under a recommended charge of attempted murder.

The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office states that the investigation remains active and ongoing. Authorities are urging anyone with relevant information regarding the assault or the subsequent collision to contact Kittcom at 509-925-8534.