Man charged in 2022 DUI crash that killed teen dies by suicide before trial

A man charged with intoxication manslaughter in a 2022 crash that killed a White Settlement teen and left her father hospitalized for a year and a half died by suicide last week.

Donald Arthur Gruber, 66, was arrested Aug. 7, 2022, after a truck crashed into a home in the 9300 block of Jason Court. The crash killed Katey June Kirkland, 18, who was a student at Saginaw High School. According to a lawsuit filed in Tarrant County last year, the crash left the truck “buried” in the home so that only a trailer the truck was pulling could be seen outside.

Kirkland was killed while she was in her room; her father was left seriously injured. According to the suit, Gruber and his passenger, Peggy Cox, were overserved alcohol at a bar before getting behind the wheel on the night of the crash. Cox, 71, faced charges of manslaughter after police said she grabbed the steering wheel prior to the crash.

However, court records show Cox was never indicted in the case. The lawsuit filed against Cox, Gruber and the bar that served them that night was settled out of court earlier this year, court records show.

Amy Kirkland, Katey’s mother, said the crash has taken everything from her. Her family’s home was destroyed; her husband, Kevin, was left in a coma for several months and has been permanently affected; and her only child was killed.

“It’s devastating, it’s heartbreaking, it’s horrible,” Amy Kirkland said. “There’s not enough adjectives to describe how losing a kid and losing your house and losing your husband basically all at the same time. I don’t even have a word strong enough to describe it.”

Kevin Kirkland said that after the crash he was restricted to a wheelchair before starting physical therapy to relearn how to walk. He said he also had to relearn how to chew and swallow. More than two years after the crash, he still deals with hearing, vision and balance issues.

“It’s been adjustment after adjustment after adjustment,” Kevin Kirkland said. “I’m glad that I’ve recovered somewhat. It should have never happened.”

White Settlement police said in a Facebook post Saturday that about 4:10 a.m. on Aug. 31, police responded to a report of a suicide in the 9100 block of Nathan Drive. A caller reported a shooting and responding officers found the man — later identified as Gruber — in the yard with a gunshot wound to the head.

According to court records, Gruber was set to appear in court Wednesday. A motion for continuance in the trial was filed the day before his death, which also came several days after Gruber was found to have violated the conditions of his bond by drinking alcohol.

Amy Kirkland said she learned from the Tarrant County district attorney on Thursday that Gruber had died. When she heard the news, she broke down in tears.

While she wasn’t looking forward to reliving the night of Katey’s death, Amy Kirkland said she wanted the trial to go forward so that Gruber could see how he impacted her family.

“I don’t want to say I was looking forward to the trial, but I wanted the trial to happen so that he could face his punishment,” she said. “He could see us. He could hear her story. He could see Kevin.”

“Whether we have a trial or not, the outcome is the same. She’s not coming back,” she said.

Katey was about to begin her senior year of high school and had turned 18 a month before her death. Amy Kirkland said her daughter had just gotten her driver’s license, bought her first car and registered to vote. She was interested in art and planned to attend Tarrant County College to study architecture.

“She was excited that she had a car. She was excited but nervous about being an adult,” Amy Kirkland said. “She was ready to go. She was really conscientious and really thoughtful about things, and wanted things to be right in the world. She wanted to treat people well.”

Gruber’s attorney did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Saturday.

Lifelines of support

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 to connect with mental health professionals

North Texas Behavioral Health Authority: 24-hour crisis hotline at 877-653-6363 or go to ntbha.org

Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas: Speak to a trained counselor on the 24-hour hotline at 214-828-1000, text 741741 or go to sccenter.org

Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line: Grant Halliburton Foundation initiative that connects North Texans with mental-health resources customized to each caller at 972-525-8181 or go to HereForTexas.com

Dallas Metrocare Services: For help, call 214-743-1215 or go to metrocareservices.org