Soap Lake child dies in car crash

SOAP LAKE — A 1-year-old Soap Lake girl died in a collision Tuesday night on state Route 17, two miles south of Soap Lake.

Douglas McGowen, 39, Spokane, was booked into Grant County Jail for vehicular homicide and vehicular assault, Washington State Patrol Trooper Rich Magnussen said Wednesday.

The state patrol suspects McGowen consumed alcohol prior to driving, he said.

The infant was riding with her father Leon C. Schooler, 35, Soap Lake, in their 2001 Pontiac coupe when they collided with McGowen. The girl died at the scene.

McGowen was traveling southbound on SR 17 in a 1985 GMC truck, the state patrol reported. He reportedly swerved into the northbound lane where there was an oncoming vehicle.

When McGowen swerved, Schooler swerved into the southbound lane to avoid a collision with McGowen, Magnussen said.

“At the last second, McGowen swerved back into the southbound lane and (they collided),” he said.

The infant was properly secured in a child’s safety seat and the seat remained secured in the vehicle during the crash, Magnussen added.

Schooler was airlifted to Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane for unspecified injuries.

McGowen was transported to Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata for treatment of possible lacerations to the head and hand. He was booked into jail after he was treated.

The incident remains under investigation.

Both vehicles were totaled and towed from the scene.