Charges: DUI, 4 counts manslaughter

By KVAL.com Staff Published: Jan 23, 2009 at 11:51 AM PST Last Updated: Jan 23, 2009 at 11:03 PM PST
Charges: DUI, 4 counts manslaughter »Play Video
The crash killed Heather Mulgrave, 36, of Springfield, Connie Vermilyea, 34, of Springfield, her son Jaziah Vermilyea, 10, and Nima Gibba, 11. Mulgrave's son Jakobi, 10, was in critical condition at a Portland hospital Friday afternoon.


Heather Mulgrave


Connie and Jaziah Vermilyea


Nima Gibba
EUGENE, Ore. -- Police arrested the driver of a red Isuzu Rodeo involved in a crash Wednesday that killed four people, two of them children.

Investigators believe Matthew N. Ellmers, 24, was driving drunk and ran a red light at the intersection of Bertelsen Road and West 11th Avenue. His Isuzu collided with a Toyota Highlander, pushing the second vehicle into a power pole.

Four of the five people in the Highlander were killed in the crash: Heather Mulgrave, 36, of Springfield, Connie Vermilyea, 34, of Springfield, her son Jaziah Vermilyea, 10, and Nima Gibba, 11, a friend of the other passengers. 

Heather Mulgrave's son Jakobi Mulgrave, 10, was also in the car and was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. He was listed in critical condition at Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, Ore.

Police charged Ellmers with:

  • Four counts of Manslaughter in the First Degree
  • One count of Assault in the Second Degree
  • Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants
  • Reckless Driving

If anyone witnessed the crash or has relevant information, they are urged to call Officer Michael Klews at (541) 682-5154 ext. 1193.

Friends held a candlelight vigil Thursday at the Springfield, Ore., studio where Mulgrave taught dance.

A memorial fund for Heather Mulgrave and a medical fund for Jakobi Mulgrave have been set up at Pacific Continental Bank.