Condition of drivers improving, but cause of crash remains elusive

The condition of both drivers stabilized Wednesday after the Tuesday crash that killed all five children of a Chewelah family. But investigators got no closer to determining why it occurred.

The children’s father, 38-year-old Jeffrey B. Schrock, was upgraded from critical to serious condition at Sacred Heart Medical Center, Washington State Patrol Trooper Jeff Sevigney said.

The other motorist in the crash, 55-year-old Clifford L. Helm, was in satisfactory condition with head injuries at Sacred Heart.

Schrock’s children, Carmen Joy Schrock, 12; Jana Louise Schrock, 10; Carinna Jean Schrock, 8; Jerryl Burdette Schrock, 5; and Craig Alan Schrock, 2, were pronounced dead at the scene.

“Some troopers with 20-plus years of experience said it’s the worst crash they’ve ever seen,” Sevigney said.

WSP detectives returned Wednesday to the crash site, just north of the intersection of U.S. Highway 395 and Hatch Road, Sevigney said. The investigators hoped to determine why Helm’s 1999 Ford F-250 pickup crossed the median and struck Schrock’s southbound 1986 Ford F-250 pickup in the southbound lane.

“They just wanted to get a look at it in the daylight and look for more evidence,” he said.

“Based on witness statements, three of the kids were restrained in some way,” Sevigney said. “But due to the severity of the crash, the seatbelts were not effective.”

The youngest child, Craig, was not in a child safety seat. “That child was not properly restrained,” Sevigney said.

Investigators do not have any indication that speed or aggressive driving was a factor. But Sevigney said investigators are looking into Helm’s driving record.

Spokane County District Court records show that Helm has had four traffic tickets in two years. Three were speeding tickets, including a $125 ticket from August that Helm paid on Oct. 19.

Helm also has a $101 ticket from Feb. 11, 2003 for improper lane usage.

Sevigney did not know if Schrock, who has no record of driving infractions in Spokane County, ever hit his brakes.

“There was some evasive maneuvering at the last moment, but it happened so fast he didn’t have any time to do anything,” Sevigney said of Schrock.

So far, no obvious cause has been discovered to explain why Helm’s truck crossed through the median.

“There are no indicators of any major medical problems or alcohol or drug impairment,” Sevigney said. “We have many questions we are hoping to get answers for. This is puzzling.”

A WSP detective spoke with Helm at Sacred Heart Medical Center. “But nothing really was gleaned from it,” Sevigney said. “We are hoping to talk to him later.”

Helm expressed remorse, Sevigney said.

“The Schrock family indicated that they were going to pray for the causing driver,” Sevigney said. “It’s pretty remarkable for the situation they are in.”