Driver of fatal Soap Lake accident determined

SOAP LAKE - Pavel Turchik, 17, Soap Lake, was determined to be driving the car during a crash killing him and Sheila Rosenberg, 17, Soap Lake, on Feb, 19.

Turchik was driving the 2001 Pontiac Sunbird when it drove off of Road 20 Northeast, three miles east of Soap Lake, striking a driveway culvert, according to Kyle Foreman, the public information officer for the sheriff's office.

Deputy Josh Sainsbury made the determination as part of the investigation. He reviewed the vehicle and the occupants' injuries, as well as interviews with witnesses and friends of Turchik and Rosenberg.

"The members of the Grant County Sheriff's Office extend their deepest sympathies to the families and friends of Sheila and Pavel, and hope this information may help them understand what happened" stated Foreman.

Neither teenager was wearing a seat belt and both were ejected from the car, Foreman stated. Rosenberg died at the scene and Turchik was critically injured and flown to Providence-Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, where he died on Feb. 25.

Investigators are waiting on toxicology tests to determine the cause of the accident.

- Staff report