Tragedy strikes again: Woman whose son died in I-15 disaster loses another child

Kim Smith

Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2001 | 11:48 a.m.

When Vicki Gould took the stand during Jessica Williams' sentencing in March, she promised her children that she would overcome the darkness that had been threatening to overwhelm her since the death of her youngest son, Scottie, 14.

Five months later Gould is suffering the agony of losing another son, 19-year-old Joseph William Harvey. Ironically, police believe Joseph was killed in an accident caused by a driver who was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, just as they did in Scottie's death.

According to the Bakersfield Californian, Joseph was a passenger in a pickup being driven by Robert Grabinski, 37, on Saturday in Bakersfield. Grabinksi is alleged to have lost control of the pickup truck on a curve while going 70 mph. The truck overturned, ejecting Joseph and killing him.

Two other passengers were slightly injured, and Grabinski was arrested on felony DUI and manslaughter charges, the paper reported.

Gould is currently in California taking care of funeral arrangements, said Rob Murdock, who is representing Gould in her civil lawsuit against Williams, Clark County and Republic Services of Nevada.

Williams, 22, is serving 18 to 48 years after she was convicted in connection with the April 19, 2000, crash that killed Scottie and five other children as they picked up trash in a median on Interstate 15. A jury found that Williams had drugs in her system when she drove off the highway and struck the youths. Gould and the parents of the other children are suing Clark County and Republic Services of Nevada, alleging they and Williams are responsible for the deaths.

Murdock said he was stunned to hear about Joseph's death on Monday.

"I can't imagine losing one of my children, but losing two is incomprehensible," Murdock said. "I can't even imagine carrying on." Murdock said Gould has already asked him to file a wrongful death lawsuit against Grabinski.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker, who prosecuted Williams and got to know Gould throughout the process, was also distressed by the news.

"It's a great American tragedy," Booker said. "Two children of the same woman killed as the result of irresponsible criminal behavior. Her loss is incomprehensible to the rest of us. I only ask that she be strong."

Gould has two other children, Kristine and Melissa Harvey.