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Father Charged In Deadly Tubing Accident

POSTED: 1:04 pm PDT October 19, 2007
UPDATED: 12:32 am PDT October 20, 2007

The Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has filed charges against a 37-year-old man in connection with the tubing death of his 9-year-old daughter.

Police said Madison Gecho, 9, was riding on a tube being pulled behind her father’s pickup truck when it swung into a brick bench in the parking lot of Thomas Jefferson Middle School on Jan. 16.

The girl was taken to Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital by her father Peter Gecho, and later transported to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland.

She was pronounced dead a short time later, according to authorities.

An 18-year-old man also riding on the tube suffered only bruises.

In the court documents, a neighbor told police he and Peter Gecho were drinking whiskey earlier in the day.

Another witness said Gecho was seen with a can of Coors Light and officers also said they found a Coors Light can at the scene of the accident, according to the documents.

The documents also said Gecho’s attorney was at the hospital before police arrived. Gecho refused to talk with officers and would not take a blood alcohol test, police said.

In a statement, Madison's mother, Jill Gecho, said the charges "further scar a family that has already suffered a tremendous loss."

She said Peter Gecho's relationship with Madison was "based on love, learning and their happiness," and that his "intention on the day of the accident was to bring joy to his children."

Peter Gecho has been charged on suspicion of vehicular homicide and is scheduled to appear in Clark County Superior Court on Nov. 6.

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