Community offers support to Soap Lake family

SOAP LAKE — The family of a Soap Lake girl killed in a car crash received a gift basket from Moses Lake Community Health Center employees.

The mother and grandmother of the 1-year-old child, Savanna Schooler, are employed at the health center.

Chief Financial Officer Carolyn Brandenburg said an account for the family was opened at Washington Trust Bank to cover the little girl’s funeral expenses.

Contributions can be made to the Schooler fund account. Prepared deposit tickets are available at the Ephrata and Moses Lake branches.

In addition to raising funds for the Schooler family account, health center employees collected goodies for the family and arranged them into a “getaway” gift basket.

The basket included a night at the Coeur d’Alene Resort and tickets to the St. Joe River Cruise, donated by the Columbia Basin Herald.

The employer of Savanna’s father, 35-year-old Soap Lake resident Leon Schooler, donated wine for the basket. Snacks and chocolates were included.

“My heart goes out to the family, and the newspaper’s glad to help,” said Publisher Harlan Beagley. “There’s no good words to say in matters like these. God bless.”

The man accused of causing Savanna’s death is Douglas McGowan, 39, of Spokane. He was charged in Grant County Superior Court with one count of vehicular homicide and one count of vehicular assault after the death of Savanna and injury of Leon.

McGowan was driving in the northbound lane of state Route 17, when he allegedly crossed the center line, according to the Washington State Patrol report.

While driving in the southbound lane, Leon reportedly swerved into the other lane to avoid McGowan.

McGowan allegedly turned onto the southbound lane, colliding with Schooler’s car, according to the police report.

McGowan reportedly told police he was returning from a Soap Lake bar where he had three beers, according to police records. Tests after the crash allegedly show he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.134.