Man arrested for vehicular homicide in girl's death

EPHRATA — An 8-year-old girl died and five other people were injured in a two-vehicle collision in Ephrata Wednesday night. A Ephrata man was arrested for vehicular homicide in connection with the collision.

The collision stems from the Ephrata Police Department responding to a report of a possible vehicle prowl in progress on Nob Hill Drive about 5:45 p.m. The suspect vehicle in the alleged prowl, a 1998 Dodge Durango, reportedly drove away before police arrived.

The driver of the Durango, identified as Neil McLeod, 36, of Ephrata, reportedly drove south on D Street Northeast and did not stop at the Division Avenue East stop sign. The Durango crashed into a 1980 Chevrolet LUV pickup struck in the D Street/Division Avenue intersection.

The Durango rolled and came to a rest on its side against a power pole. The Chevrolet crashed into the garage portion of an unoccupied house on D Street Southwest. The three occupants of the truck, identified as Justin Grubb, 33, of Ephrata, Elizabeth Mills, 35, of East Wenatchee, and Audrey Grubb, 8, of Ephrata, were trapped in the truck and removed by firefighters.

Audrey Grubb was injured and later died at Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata. Justin Grubb, who is a corrections deputy with the sheriff’s office, received serious injuries and was transported to Samaritan Healthcare in Moses Lake. Mills was critically injured in the accident and airlifted via LifeFlight helicopter to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane.

McLeod was arrested by officers and transported to Samaritan for treatment. The sheriff’s office reports he is lodged in the Chelan County Jail in Wenatchee and facing charges of DUI-drugs, vehicular homicide and vehicular assault. Two passengers in the Durango, identified as Jaucina Skotland, 26, of Moses Lake, and Sarah Gibson, 24, of Soap Lake, sustained minor injuries and were transported to local hospitals.

The sheriff’s office credited the EPD, Ephrata Fire Department, Ephrata Public Works, Grant County Fire District No. 13, American Medical Response ambulance service, Protection-1 ambulance service from Quincy, deputies at the scene, and staff at Columbia Basin Hospital and Samaritan Healthcare for their quick response and aid given to the injured.

“This collision has an especially sad connection to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office. Justin Grubb is a Grant County Sheriff’s Corrections Deputy, who was off duty at the time of the incident. His 8-year-old daughter Audrey died due to her injuries and Justin’s girlfriend Elizabeth was critically injured,” Sheriff Tom Jones said. “Because the sheriff’s office family was impacted by this tragedy, sheriff’s office corrections staff were gathered and notified by the GCSO administration. Sheriff’s Chaplain Dennis Fountain was on hand providing compassionate care and assisting family and co-workers. Please join me by taking a moment and saying a prayer for everyone impacted by this heartbreaking turn of events.”

The Grant County Sheriff’s Motor Traffic Unit is investigating the accident.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.