By BECKY THOMAS
Staff Reporter
Cheney resident Heath Barden is under investigation for vehicular assault after he rolled his car on the afternoon of Feb. 6.
Barden, 35, was driving north on Murphy around 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6 when his car left the road in the 1400 block of South Murphy Road, rolling at least two times before landing back on the road on the driver's side. Barden's two children, a 5-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl, were in the vehicle at the time. All three were injured and taken to the hospital, with the 5-year-old boy receiving the worst injuries to his head.
Spokane County Sheriff's investigators initially thought the boy had glass in his eye, but doctors discovered his eye was swollen shut due to cuts and bruises on his head. Due to the severity of the boy's injuries and because his father was suspected to be intoxicated, Barden was arrested for vehicular assault.
Sheriff's Office Cpl. Dave Thornburg, who responded to the scene of the accident and was investigating the case, said investigators initially thought both children were properly seat-belted during the accident, but further investigation revealed that both children were sitting in the passenger side of the Mitsubishi Montero, buckled in with the same seatbelt with the shoulder strap behind them.
“Talking with the mother the following day, she confirmed by talking to the kids,” he said. “The kids told us they were both in the front seat strapped in together.”
Thornburg said it took more than 200 feet of distance for the vehicle to stop during the accident, which indicated Barden was driving over the 35 mph speed limit.
“If you're doing 35 and you slam on your brakes, you should be able to get stopped in 60 feet,” he said.
Barden was also suspected for DUI.
“It was smelled on him, but there's also liquor bottles that were found at the scene,” Thornburg said.
After he was arrested for vehicular assault, officers drew Barden's blood to test for toxicology. Results usually take about a month.
A recent change to state law also required that Child Protective Services be called in the case. The law requires CPS be informed any time children are involved in a vehicle accident where the driver is suspected under the influence, in case there are no other guardians to care for the children.
“In this case, we had both sets of grandparents, the mom's there,” he said. “We can ensure that the kids are safe and they have a safe place to go.”
Barden and his daughter received minor injuries, and the 5-year-old boy was released from the hospital Feb. 7. Thornburg said the vehicular assault charge required that the victim have part of their body “significantly impaired.” The boy's eye was glued shut to promote healing, so Thornburg said the prosecuting attorney would decide whether that met the requirements to charge Barden with the felony.
Thornburg said it was “a miracle” that the children were not more severely hurt due to the suspected speed and the dynamics of the rollover.
Barden also had a suspended driver's license at the time of the accident. The collision is still under investigation.
Becky Thomas can be reached at [email protected].
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