Man charged with death of infant

EPHRATA — A Spokane man was charged with vehicular homicide after a car crash killed a 1-year old Soap Lake girl and injured her father.

Douglas McGowan, 39, was charged in Grant County Superior Court with one count of vehicular homicide and one count of vehicular assault.

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 C. Schooler, 35, Soap Lake, reportedly swerved into the other lane to avoid McGowan.

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

The 1-year Soap Lake girl died and Schooler was injured in the collision.

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

McGowan was treated for possible lacerations to his head and hand at Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata.

McGowan reportedly told the 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. 

His bail was set at $250,000, according to Grant County Superior Court records.

Prosecutors stated McGowan was on probation for driving under the influence in Spokane in 2006.

If convicted, McGowan could serve up to life in prison.