Print
Share page with AddThis

Arrest Made in Hit and Run Fatality

Posted on: August 16, 2022 - 5:32pm

LGPD Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 16, 2022 / 5:18pm

CONTACT
Gary Bell
Chief of Police - La Grande Police Department
541-963-1017 / office    gbell@cityoflagrande.org


ARREST MADE IN HIT AND RUN FATALITY

On Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at 4:32 pm, La Grande Police detectives arrested Elijah Bennett Ward (26-yoa) of La Grande, in connection to the August 13, 2022 hit and run death of Maison Andrew (24-yoa) of La Grande. 

Andrew was found deceased on 16th Street in La Grande on Saturday morning, August 13, 2022.  Investigation revealed that Andrew had been walking along 16th Street, when sometime during the night he was struck by a vehicle.  The driver of the vehicle fled the scene without contacting emergency services.  In the time since Andrew was found deceased, investigators have been following up on leads, analyzing evidence, and working diligently to identify the suspect vehicle and driver. 

On August 16, 2022 at 12:52 pm, La Grande Police officers located the white 2009 Mitsubishi Galant that was associated with the hit and run parked in front of Ward’s residence at 609 Y Avenue in La Grande.  Ward cooperated with investigators and was taken into custody without incident. 

Ward was arrested and booked into the Union County Jail on the following charges:

  • Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver w/ Person Injuries; and
  • Manslaughter II.

This remains an ongoing investigation and additional charges may be filed. If you have information pertinent to this case, please contact the La Grande Police Department and speak with Detective Sergeant Ryan Miller at 541-963-1017. 


###