A La Center man’s bail was set at $500,000 after he allegedly crashed his truck into another car on state Route 503 in Clark County, leaving a teen from Napavine dead at the scene, while a girl from Yacolt died at the hospital days later.
On June 15, David Zarb, 46, had his first appearance in Clark County Superior Court, facing a charge of vehicular homicide and two charges of vehicular assault. His court appearance came before the death of the Yacolt girl, meaning he will likely face a second charge of vehicular homicide.
The Washington State Patrol responded to the area of state Route 503 and Gabriel Road for a two-vehicle, head-on collision at about 1:30 p.m. on June 14, according to a probable cause affidavit for Zarb’s arrest. The affidavit stated Zarb was heading northbound on state Route 503 when he crossed the center line with his F-150 and struck the victims’ vehicle, a Mazda 3, head on.
Both vehicles rotated before coming to a stop, the affidavit stated. Deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene to find one person, identified as Ivy Hunt, 16, of Napavine, dead at the scene. Three others — Harumi and Emi Yato, both 15, and Danlette Yato, 66, all of Yacolt — received critical injuries and were transported from the scene.
On June 17, the state patrol reported one of the other teens, who was a passenger, had died. Her twin was driving at the time of the accident.
When a detective approached Zarb’s vehicle they noticed “an odor of intoxicants coming from inside the truck,” the affidavit stated. Zarb admitted to troopers and firefighters at the scene that he had three drinks before meeting up with a friend in Battle Ground for two more. He told firefighters he believed it was 6 or 7 p.m.
While on an emergency stretcher, Zarb “was clearly being sarcastic and uncooperative” when asked for his name, according to the affidavit. After he was transported to the hospital, a responding officer could also smell an odor of intoxicants and noted Zarb’s “eyes were bloodshot and watery.”
Zarb requested an attorney at the hospital, the affidavit stated, though while speaking with a nurse he said “it was like a hard collision” and mentioned his airbag deployed. A responding officer took a blood draw for toxicology evidence after receiving a search warrant.
Zarb is scheduled for another appearance in court June 25.
