“There needs to be justice for the sweet, sassy, beautiful life that was taken from this world too soon,” a friend of the family said of five-year-old Amelia, whose bright smile was extinguished in a head-on collision on Highway 95 November 22 near Elmira. “The family deserves justice and accountability.”
The crash on Highway 95 killed five-year-old Amelia Corollo and injured Amelia’s brother, Patrick, driver Anna Andreykovets, 33, Otis Orchards, Washington, and friend Amanda Corollo, 33, Deer Park, mother of Amelia and Patrick.
According to the ISP report, Gross was driving south on Highway 95 near mile 489.8 in a blue 2011 Dodge Ram when he pulled into the northbound lane to pass four vehicles he’d been following that had been traveling below the speed due to falling snow and a slushy road surface.
At about 8:35 a.m., he hit the northbound black 2008 Ford Edge, the family on their way to British Columbia for one of Patrick’s hockey games.
Gross was charged with vehicular manslaughter, three counts of aggravated driving while reckless and possession of methamphetamines, all felonies, and possession of paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.
According to court documents, Gross was in a hurry because he was late for an eye appointment. Should the motion to dismiss fail, a five-day jury trial is set for 9 a.m. Monday. July 14, in Bonner County before Judge Susie Jensen.