2A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2018
SUV plunge off cliff may have been intentional, police say
Family was
investigated for
child neglect
Associated Press
MENDOCINO, Calif. —
An SUV carrying a large fam-
ily from Washington state
accelerated straight off a sce-
nic California cliff and author-
ities said the deadly wreck
may have been intentional.
The wreck was discovered
last week, days after child wel-
fare authorities began inves-
tigating whether the children
were being neglected.
Information pulled from
the vehicle’s software shows it
was stopped at a flat, dirt pull-
off area before it sped off the
steep rocky face and plunged
100 feet, said Capt. Greg
Baarts of the California High-
way Patrol.
Speaking at an evening
news conference Sunday
night, Baarts said the elec-
tronic information combined
with the lack of skid marks
Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
The SUV of Jennifer and Sarah Hart was recovered off Pa-
cific Coast Highway 1, near Westport, Calif.
or signs the driver braked led
authorities to believe the crash
was purposeful.
Five members of the Hart
family were found dead. The
search continued for three
more children believed to
have been in the vehicle when
it went over a coastal over-
look and landed on rocks
in the Pacific Ocean below.
The missing children may
have been washed out to sea,
authorities say.
“This specific location is
very difficult to search because
the ocean currents and tides
are strong, it’s unpredict-
able, and the murkiness of the
water makes it difficult to see,”
said Capt. Greg Van Patten, a
spokesman for the Mendocino
County Sheriff’s Office.
Known as the Hart Tribe,
the multiracial family of two
married women — Sarah
FIVE-DAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA
TONIGHT
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
52
41
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Occasional afternoon rain
and drizzle
Partly cloudy and chilly
ALMANAC
New
Portland
36/55
Salem
32/54
Newport
35/51
Coos Bay
35/53
Full
Apr 22
Source: Jim Todd, OMSI
TOMORROW'S TIDES
Astoria / Port Docks
Time
10:25 a.m.
10:22 p.m.
Low
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1.7 ft.
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Ontario
27/60
Burns
15/57
Lakeview
19/58
Ashland
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The event is from 9 to 11
p.m. at The Voodoo Room at
1102 Marine Drive.
ScheckPea is a multi-in-
strumental band featuring a
cultural array of roots, Gypsy
jazz, African beats, Latin folk,
blues and soul music.
“Sometimes a live record-
ing can capture a moment in
time more than a studio record-
ing, despite its imperfections
a certain feel and sound that
comes from a relationship with
an audience,” Metzner writes.
“Joe and I both agree this
release captures some good
times at The Voodoo Room.”
sioners, state House District
32 and the 1st Congressio-
nal District have been invited
to speak. Ron Brown, who is
running unopposed for Clat-
sop County District Attorney,
is also scheduled to appear.
The event is free and open
to the public. Attendees will be
able to submit questions in writ-
ing, which will be presented by
moderator Trish Garner.
The forum is sponsored by
the Astoria chapter of the Amer-
ican Association of University
Women and The Daily Astorian.
ON THE RECORD
Klamath Falls
23/60
Tues.
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Olympia
Pendleton
Portland
Roseburg
Salem
Seaside
Spokane
Springfi eld
Vancouver
Yakima
Hi
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Today
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TOMORROW'S NATIONAL WEATHER
NATIONAL CITIES
Today
Lo
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A forum for candidates in the
May primary election is sched-
uled for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the
Astoria High School auditorium.
Candidates for the Clat-
sop County Board of Commis-
Baker
20/57
REGIONAL CITIES
City
Baker City
Bend
Brookings
Eugene
Ilwaco
Klamath Falls
Medford
Newberg
Newport
North Bend
The Daily Astorian
The Daily Astorian
Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2018
Tonight's Sky: Before dawn, Mars and Saturn will
make a close approach, passing within 116 feet of
each other.
called state Child Protective
Services because Devonte
had been coming over to their
house almost every day for a
week, asking for food.
Dana
DeKalb
said
Devonte told her his parents
were “punishing them by
withholding food.” The boy
asked her to leave food in a
box by the fence for him, she
said.
Social service authori-
ties opened an investigation,
and a state caseworker went
to the house on March 23 but
didn’t find anyone home. The
agency had no prior history
with the family, said Norah
West, a spokeswoman with
the Washington Department
of Social and Health Services.
On Thursday, authorities
in Washington state combed
through the family’s home
for information. The Clark
County Sheriff’s Office said
deputies were looking for
bills, receipts or anything
else to shed light on why the
family left and other circum-
stances related to the trip,
KGW-TV reported.
Candidate forum for May election is Tuesday
La Grande
25/54
Roseburg
32/60
Brookings
40/59
Apr 29
John Day
26/58
Bend
24/57
Medford
32/65
UNDER THE SKY
High
9.0 ft.
7.8 ft.
Prineville
23/58
Lebanon
30/55
Well before the wreck,
Sarah Hart pleaded guilty in
2011 to a domestic assault
charge in Douglas County,
Minnesota, telling authorities
“she let her anger get out of
control” while spanking her
6-year-old adopted daughter,
court records show.
The two women, both 38,
were found dead inside the
SUV, while three of their chil-
dren — Markis Hart, 19, Jer-
emiah Hart, 14, and Abigail
Hart, 14 — were discovered
outside the vehicle. Search-
ers were looking for Hannah
Hart, 16; Sierra Hart, 12; and
Devonte Hart, 15.
Devonte drew national
attention after the black
youngster was photographed
in tears, hugging a white
police officer during a 2014
protest in Portland over the
deadly police shooting of a
black man in Ferguson, Mis-
souri. Devonte was holding a
“Free Hugs” sign.
Two weeks ago, Bruce
and Dana DeKalb, next-
door neighbors of the Harts
in Woodland, Washington,
Local band ScheckPea holds party for CD release
Local stalwarts Joey
“Pee-Wee” Patenaude and
“Sheckie” Metzner of Scheck-
Pea will host a CD release
party Wednesday night for
“ScheckPea, Live at The Voo-
doo Room.”
Periods of rain
Pendleton
30/55
The Dalles
33/58
Eugene
28/53
First
Apr 15
City
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Denver
Des Moines
Detroit
El Paso
Fairbanks
Honolulu
Indianapolis
Kansas City
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
Memphis
Miami
Nashville
New Orleans
New York
Oklahoma City
Philadelphia
St. Louis
Salt Lake City
San Francisco
Seattle
Washington, DC
Breezy with rain
Tillamook
32/53
Sunset tonight ........................... 7:45 p.m.
Sunrise Tuesday .......................... 6:52 a.m.
Moonrise today ........................ 10:24 p.m.
Moonset today ............................ 8:24 a.m.
Time
3:47 a.m.
4:37 p.m.
Cloudy with a bit of rain
57
46
Shown is tomorrow's weather. Temperatures are tonight's lows and tomorrow's highs.
ASTORIA
36/52
SUN AND MOON
Apr 8
FRIDAY
54
48
REGIONAL WEATHER
Astoria through Sunday.
Temperatures
High/low ....................................... 47°/36°
Normal high/low ........................... 55°/40°
Record high ............................ 75° in 1944
Record low ............................. 29° in 1953
Precipitation
Sunday ............................................. 0.48"
Month to date ................................... 0.48"
Normal month to date ....................... 0.21"
Year to date .................................... 23.71"
Normal year to date ........................ 25.05"
Last
THURSDAY
54
46
and Jennifer Hart — and six
adopted children often took
spontaneous road trips to camp
and hike and traveled to festi-
vals and other events, offering
hugs and promoting unity.
Authorities don’t know
exactly when the wreck took
place. A passing motorist dis-
covered the vehicle on March
26, three days after social ser-
vice authorities in Washing-
ton state opened an investiga-
tion apparently prompted by a
neighbor’s complaint that the
children were being deprived
of food. Authorities believe at
least one felony was commit-
ted but Van Patten declined to
specify.
“To the best of my knowl-
edge, there was not a suicide
note found at the residence,”
said Baarts, who added that
authorities have been inter-
viewing friends and family
members of the Harts.
“There have been red
flags,” he said, but did not
elaborate.
Van Patten said he was not
aware of any other evidence of
abuse.
Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day.
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DUII
• On Sunday, Placido Saucedo, 23, of Asto-
ria, was arrested by the Clatsop County Sher-
iff’s Office at the intersection of Svensen Mar-
ket and George Hill roads for driving while
under the influence of intoxicants.
• On Saturday, Holly Stevens, 45, of Warren-
ton, was arrested by the Warrenton police near
Main Avenue and Third Street on one count
each of DUII and driving while suspended.
Stevens had a blood alcohol content of 0.12
percent.
• On Friday, Evan Patrick Norris, 28, of
McMinnville, was arrested by the Oregon State
Police for DUII. Norris was traveling eastbound
on U.S. Highway 26 at 87 mph when a trooper
tried to pull him over. He eventually crashed
into a ditch and later registered a blood alcohol
content of 0.08 percent.
Computer crime
• On Saturday, Barry Sharp, 48, of Olym-
pia, Washington, was arrested by Seaside police
near the Shilo Inn Oceanfront Seaside on one
count each of computer crime, first-degree forg-
ery and first-degree theft.
Assault
• On Sunday, Danny Landauer, 59, of Sea-
side, was arrested by the Clatsop County Sher-
iff’s Office on Dellmoor Loop in Warrenton for
fourth-degree assault.
DEATHS
March 31, 2018
CISZEK, Curtis R. Sr.,
63, of Bend, died in Asto-
ria. Hughes-Ransom Mortu-
aries & Crematory of Asto-
ria/Seaside is in charge of the
arrangements.
STURGES, Michael, 74,
of Astoria, died in Portland.
Hughes-Ransom Mortuaries &
Crematory of Astoria/Seaside is
in charge of the arrangements.
WILLIAMS, Katherine,
69, of Gearhart, died in Sea-
side. Hughes-Ransom Mor-
tuaries & Crematory of Asto-
ria/Seaside is in charge of the
arrangements.
MEMORIAL
Thursday, April 5
GILL, Jean Francis — Rosary at 10:30 a.m., Mass at 11 a.m., All Saint’s Catholic Church, 3847
N.E. Glisan St. in Portland.
PUBLIC MEETINGS
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy,
sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow fl urries,
sn-snow, i-ice.
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Commission, 10:30 a.m., 1225
Avenue A., Seaside.
Seaside Library Board, 4:30
p.m., 1131 Broadway, Seaside.
Miles Crossing Sanitary Sewer
District Board, 6 p.m., 34583
U.S. Highway 101 Business.
Seaside Planning Commis-
sion, 7 p.m., City Hall, 989
Broadway.
Cannon Beach City Council, 7
p.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St.
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Saturday’s Powerball: 8-24-52-
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Friday’s Pick 4:
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4 p.m.: 9379
7 p.m.: 9082
10 p.m.: 8762
Friday’s Lucky Lines: 01-05-12-
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Saturday’s Keno: 10-11-14-15-
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Saturday’s Lotto: 06-24-26-38-
44-45
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Saturday’s Match 4: 04-09-13-
16
Friday’s Daily Game: 2-2-7
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Friday’s Match 4: 07-09-20-21
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Sunday’s Pick 4:
1 p.m.: 0-0-1-4
4 p.m.: 3-9-0-3
7 p.m.: 6-8-6-8
10 p.m.: 9-2-5-4
Sunday’s Lucky Lines: 01-06-
12-15-20-22-26-29
Estimated jackpot: $13,000
Saturday’s Pick 4:
1 p.m.: 0-2-6-5
4 p.m.: 5-4-4-4
7 p.m.: 5-4-4-3
10 p.m.: 6-9-8-5
Saturday’s Lucky Lines: 04-05-
11-16-20-23-27-29
Estimated jackpot: $11,000
Saturday’s Megabucks: 8-17-
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WASHINGTON
Sunday’s Daily Game: 3-1-4
Sunday’s Keno: 03-16-17-22-24-
The Daily Astorian
Established July 1, 1873
(USPS 035-000)
Published daily, except Saturday and Sunday, by EO Media Group,
949 Exchange St., PO Box 210, Astoria, OR 97103 Telephone 503-
325-3211, 800-781-3211 or Fax 503-325-6573. POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to The Daily Astorian, PO Box 210, Astoria,
OR 97103-0210
www.dailyastorian.com
KLEMP FAMILY DENTISTRY
Dr. Dennis Klemp, DMD, FAGD
1006 West Marine Dr., Astoria • (503) 468-0116
klempfamilydentistry.com
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