Fatal, One-Vehicle Crash, Driver Charged with Vehicular Homicide
Spokane Valley Deputies and Traffic Unit Investigators responded to a one-vehicle, fatal crash southwest of Shelley Lake. The adult male passenger was pronounced deceased at the scene. Through the investigation, the adult male driver was arrested for Vehicular Homicide.
On March 7, 2025, at approximately 11:15 pm, Spokane Valley Deputies responded to a reported one-vehicle crash, where the vehicle left the roadway and struck a fence near S. Rotchford Drive at S. Galway Lane.
Arriving Deputies observed a 2018 Subaru WRX, with extensive damage, entangled in a chain link fence on the west side of Rotchford Drive.
Spokane Valley Firefighters provided medical aid to the critically injured adult male passenger, but despite their efforts, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Deputies contacted the driver, identified as 23-year-old Julien B. Hart, who was out of the vehicle and very emotional. As they spoke with Hart to try and gain information, Deputies could smell what they believed was the odor of alcohol emitting from his breath.
From witness statements and evidence gained at the scene, the initial information indicates that the Subaru was traveling south on Rotchford Drive in the middle of the roadway. Witnesses estimated the Subaru’s speed at 55-60 mph (posted 25 mph zone). As a northbound vehicle approached the Subaru near Galway Lane, the driver said he had to pull his car over to the far right on the east side of Rotchford to avoid colliding with the Subaru in the middle of the roadway. The driver heard tires screeching as the Subaru hit the curb on the west side of Rotchford and slammed into a fence.
The witness driver turned around and went to the passenger, who appeared to be trapped in the Subaru. He did not feel a pulse, and it did not appear the passenger was breathing. Unable to remove the passenger, he attempted to provide compressions while the passenger was still in the vehicle until he was relieved by Spokane Valley Firefighters, who arrived soon after.
Hart was transported to the hospital to be medically evaluated.
Traffic Unit Investigators responded to the crash scene and the hospital to continue the investigation. At the hospital, Deputies advised Hart of his rights, and he declined to provide a statement. Due to the severity of the crash and loss of life, Investigators obtained a search warrant to collect a blood sample from Hart for testing.
With probable cause established to believe Hart was driving recklessly while impaired at the time of the fatal crash, Hart was advised he was under arrest for Vehicular Homicide. Once medically cleared, Hart was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail.
The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the name of the decedent, along with his cause and manner of death, when appropriate.
This Spokane County Sheriff Office news article "Fatal, One-Vehicle Crash, Driver Charged with Vehicular Homicide" was originally found on https://www.spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=7