Bail set at $1 million in crash that killed 8-year-old girl

EPHRATA — A Ephrata man’s bail was set at $1 million for his alleged involvement in a collision that took the life of an 8-year-old girl Wednesday.

Grant County prosecutors charged Neil McLeod, 36, of Ephrata, with first-degree manslaughter and four counts of vehicular assault.

Grant County Superior Court Judge John Knodell followed Chief Deputy Prosecutor Alan White’s recommendation and set McLeod’s bail at $1 million.

About 5:40 p.m. Wednesday the Ephrata Police Department received a report of a possible vehicle theft in the 300 block of Nob Hill Drive. A woman said McLeod was attempting to steal her vehicle and two officers responded to the scene. When officers were in the area McLeod reportedly drove by in a 1998 Dodge Durango, which prompted one of the officers to get back into his patrol car and attempt to pull over the vehicle. McLeod, who was reportedly involved with other calls for service in Ephrata and Grant County earlier in the day, left the area as he was traveling south on D Street Northeast.

McLeod allegedly failed to stop at the Division Avenue East stop sign and crashed into a 1990 Chevrolet LUV pickup truck driven by off-duty corrections deputy Justin Grubb, 33, of Ephrata. The Durango reportedly rolled and came to a rest against a power pole, while the Chevrolet crashed into the garage of a nearby residence.

When officers arrived at the scene McLeod was reportedly running to the middle of the intersection and was told to get on the ground. When he was lying down he allegedly pointed in the direction of an 8-year-old girl who was lying face down underneath a tree next to the Durango. The girl, identified as Audrey Grubb, of Ephrata, was a passenger in the truck and wasn’t breathing when she was initially contacted. Officers attempted lifesaving measures until emergency services arrived at the scene, but the girl was pronounced dead shortly after she arrived at Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata.

Justin Grubb and his girlfriend, Elizabeth Mills, 35, of Ephrata, had to be extricated from the Chevy. Justin Grubb received internal injuries and a severe concussion and was transported to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake via ambulance. Mills was initially transported to Columbia Basin Hospital for treatment, but she was later airlifted to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, where she was diagnosed with two broken legs, a broken pelvis and a lacerated spleen.

Justin Grubb was later interviewed about the collision and said he wasn't completely sure what had happened. He did say however that he believes his daughter was “more than likely” riding in the bed of the Chevy, because the truck only had two seats in the cab.

McLeod’s passengers in the Durango, Jaucina Skotland, 26, of Moses Lake, and Sarah Gibson, 24, of Soap Lake, received minor injuries and were transported to local hospitals for treatment. McLeod was initially placed into the back of a patrol truck at the scene.

“I could hear Neil yelling from the truck and we walked over to his (a EPD officer’s) truck. He opened the back door and I looked at Neil. I immediately noticed he was sweating profusely and he could not sit still. He was yelling/crying ‘she was a little girl, just a little girl. She is just a little girl,’” wrote a deputy. “Based on my training and experience as a Drug Recognition Expert, it was obvious to me that he was more than likely under the influence of a stimulant.”

Because of his injuries, McLeod could not perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and was transported to a hospital for treatment. He admitted to using methamphetamine earlier in the day and a search warrant was later applied for and granted for his blood. He was transported to Wenatchee and booked into the Chelan County Jail.

“Based on my opinion as a collision reconstructionist, Neil was traveling well above the posted speed limit of 25 mph. He left at least 90 feet of skid prior to impact indicating he was traveling well above the speed limit,” wrote a deputy. “All the tires on the Dodge were nearly bald and the left front tire had cords exposed.”

Grant County Sheriff’s Motor Traffic Unit investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the Durango on D Street in the moments before the collision, or the collision itself, to come forward with what they witnessed. Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. Josh Sainsbury at 509-750-7306 or via email at jsainsbury@grantcountywa.gov.

A special account was set up at Washington Trust Bank to benefit Grubb. The account is under “Justin Grubb” for anyone who wants to donate.

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