Greg Baarts, acting assistant chief of the California Highway Patrol’s northern division, told NBC affiliate KGW8 that investigators have “reason to believe … that the crash was intentional.” Baarts, who was not available for comment Sunday evening, told KGW8 that the finding was based on preliminary information.
Earlier reports indicated that the speedometer of the SUV that authorities said was carrying the family of eight — the two parents and their six adopted children — was “pinned” at 90 mph when it went over the cliff on the Pacific Coast Highway on March 26. Fox affiliate KPTV in Oregon reported that this indicates the vehicle remained in motion after it fell and just before it hit the rocks 100 feet below. Investigators also did not find any marks showing that the vehicle either accelerated or slowed down before it reached the cliff, or any evidence that it crashed into the embankment as it “traversed toward the tidal zone below,” according the documents cited by KPTV.
Killed are the two mothers, Jennifer Jean Hart — who was driving — and Sarah Margaret Hart, both 38, and at least three of their children. The other three are missing and are feared to be dead.
The death of a family that had once captured the world’s attention has left troubling questions about what may have preceded last week’s crash at the ocean overlook near Westport, Calif., a small community about 180 miles north of San Francisco. Child services officials in Washington state, where the family lived, have confirmed that they began investigating the Harts over “alleged abuse or neglect” shortly before the accident.
The Washington Department of Social and Health Services said it tried unsuccessfully to contact the family on three occasions, first on March 23, three days before the crash, according to a statement. The agency tried again Monday, the day of the crash, and Tuesday.
“We have not made any findings in this investigation and we had no prior history with this family,” the agency said. “We are working with all involved law enforcement agencies on their respective investigations.”
Investigators are looking into the possibility of suicide. KPTV reported that investigators have secured a warrant to search the family’s home, including documents such as bank and cellphone records, credit card statements and journals.
A spokesman for the California Highway Patrol did not respond to a request for comment Sunday.