On Saturday, August 31, 2024, at 4:11 a.m. officers responded to a report of a suicide in the 9100 block of Nathan Drive. The caller reported that a man had shot himself in the front yard. As officers arrived, they located an adult man, later identified as Donald Gruber, who appeared to be deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Detectives determined that this deceased person was the same suspect who was arrested on August 7, 2022, after crashing his pickup truck and trailer into a home in White Settlement. Unfortunately, that crash claimed the life of a teenager and seriously injured the teen’s father.
Investigators believe that Gruber was due to appear in court in early September regarding the criminal cases of Intoxication Manslaughter and Intoxication Assault. The victim’s family has been notified by WSPD detectives and the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office.
ORIGINAL NEWS RELEASE DISSEMINATED ON AUGUST 7, 2022:
Intoxication Manslaughter and Intoxication Assault Arrest – Fatality Crash Involving Teenager
On Sunday, August 7, 2022 at 6:17 p.m., the White Settlement Police Department responded to a major crash in the 9300 block of Jason Court. As officers arrived, they located a pickup truck pulling a trailer that was inside of a residence. Investigators determined that the pickup truck had been traveling southbound on Dale Lane. The driver lost control and drove over the western curb line and struck a residential fence and tree on the north side of Jason Court. The truck then crossed the street and slammed into multiple bedrooms inside of a residence located on the south side of Jason Court.
There were three occupants inside the home at the time of the crash. Unfortunately, a female teenager was pronounced deceased at the scene, inside the residence. An adult man inside the home was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. An adult woman inside the home was treated at the scene.
The driver of the pickup truck was placed under arrest for one count of Intoxication Manslaughter and one count of Intoxication Assault, based upon officer’s observations, evidence and witness statements at the scene. The criminal case will be forwarded to the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office is assisting with crime scene processing and conducting a forensic map of the crash scene.
The driver, 63-year old Donald Gruber, was arrested at the scene. No booking photo is available at this time, due to the pending blood search warrant being executed at a medical facility. Investigators have also not ruled out the possibility that speed was a factor in addition to the impairment.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office will identify the deceased once next of kin have been fully notified. The White Settlement Police Department is working with local school districts for support services due to the victim in this case being a high school student.
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