Argument Preceded Road Death Woman Got Into ‘Hollering Match’ About Use Of Profanity

A Spokane woman who jumped to her death from a moving car argued with relatives earlier in the day because she used profanity in front of her children, authorities said Friday.

Gail Marie McCarthy died of severe head injuries on a north Spokane County road about 3 p.m. Thursday, sheriff’s deputies reported.

The 47-year-old woman jumped from a Chevrolet S-10 Blazer traveling at nearly 60 mph while her husband and two young sons watched, deputies said.

“On its face, it looks like a suicide,” sheriff’s spokesman Dave Reagan said Friday.

Detectives are continuing to investigate.

At the time of the incident, the McCarthys were headed to their house in northeast Spokane after eating Thanksgiving dinner at the home of the woman’s parents in Elk, deputies said.

They left early because McCarthy got into an argument with relatives, Reagan said.

“She had a couple beers and was swearing in front of the children,” he said.

“Apparently that’s not allowed in her parents’ house, and she was asked by other family members not to do that.”

A “hollering match” ensued between the woman and her relatives, Reagan said, and Paul McCarthy decided it was time to take his wife and their sons, ages 3 and 5, home.

He was driving in the 7800 block of East Elk-Chattaroy Road when his wife opened the passenger door and jumped out, deputies said.

Reagan said there is no indication that the woman was suicidal before Thursday’s incident.

“Some families only get together once a year, but sometimes once is too often,” Reagan said.

, DataTimes