La Grande PD makes arrest in Hit and Run case

By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Wednesday, August 17th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

LA GRANDE – (Release from La Grande Police Department) 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.