Suspect in Crash That Killed Napavine Girl, Two Others Pleads Not Guilty

Clark County: La Center Man Faces Three Counts of Vehicular Homicide

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A La Center man accused of crashing his truck into a car on state Route 503 in Clark County, killing three teens including a Napavine girl, has pleaded not guilty to three charges of vehicular homicide.

During an appearance in Clark County Superior Court on Friday, David Zarb, 46, entered his not guilty plea to the charges.

Initially, he faced only one charge of vehicular homicide and multiple counts of vehicular assault, though two of the four people involved in the crash died days after the crash.

According to court documents, 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. The affidavit stated Zarb was heading northbound on state Route 503 when he crossed the center line with his F-150 and struck the victim’s vehicle, a Mazda 3, head on.

Both vehicles rotated before coming to a stop, the affidavit stated.



The fatalities from the accident include Ivy Hunt, 16, of Napavine, who died at the scene, and Harumi and Emi Yato, both 15, of Yacolt, who later died at a hospital. Following the crash, on June 17, WSP reported one of the Yato teens, who was a passenger, had died. WSP reported the other teen died on June 21.

The fourth occupant of the car, Danlette Yato, 66, also of Yacolt, received minor injuries.

According to a probable cause affidavit for Zarb’s arrest, when a detective approached Zarb’s vehicle they noticed “an odor of intoxicants coming from inside the truck.” Zarb admitted to WSP and firefighters on 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.

Zarb is currently out on bond. His trial is set for September, according to court documents.