Oakdale man found half-mile from fatal crash scene arrested on manslaughter charge
An Oakdale man found half a mile from a fatal crash scene Monday night was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and hit and run.
Paige Henderson, 31, of Oakdale, was found dead underneath a Dodge van that had overturned onto its right side on River Road, near Sawyer Avenue, west of Oakdale.
Brad Scoville, 26, of Oakdale, was found walking on River Road about a half a mile west of crash the scene, said California Highway Patrol Officer Tom Olsen.
Scoville admitted to being in a dating relationship with Henderson but “invoked his right to not speak with us” when asked about the crash, Olsen said.
That night, he was booked into the Stanislaus County jail on multiple warrants for charges including grand theft and drug possession.
Physical evidence gathered from the scene led investigators to believe Scoville was driving the vehicle. On Wednesday, he was rebooked on charges of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter and felony hit and run.
Olsen said a hit and run charge becomes a felony when the person leaves the scene of a crash in which someone is seriously injured or dies. He said the manslaughter charge against Scoville is a misdemeanor because there was nothing to substantiate gross negligence.
Olsen said Scoville was not under the influence when he was contacted by officers. Other factors that constitute gross negligence, like speeding or use of a cell phone, remain under investigation.
Investigators determined that Henderson and Scoville were traveling east on River when, for unknown reasons, Scoville allowed the vehicle to leave the south roadway, causing it to overturn.
Henderson, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle.
This story was originally published February 23, 2023 at 11:04 AM.
