SPOKANE--Family, friends and co-workers are grieving the death of a North Spokane County man who suffered a critical head injury trying to break up an underage drinking party.
65-year-old Frank Motta died yesterday after spending all week in the intensive care unit at Sacred Heart Medical Center.
Along the walls inside the Spokane VA Hospital where he worked, flyers have been hung respectfully commemorating the life of Motta.
Motta started volunteering at the hospital in 2009. More recently, Motta began a new career there as a patient advocate.
Authorities say last Saturday Motta went to help break up a wild underage drinking party at his neighbor’s house, put on by a teen while his parents were out of town.
Court papers say Motta had permission to enter the home and when he did, he was assaulted by 18 year-old Treven Lewis. Lewis says he was defending his pregnant girlfriend whom he says Motta pushed.
Motta’s family plans to hold a memorial service on Sunday March 25th at the United Methodist Church in Mead.
A friend and co-worker has also set up an account to help the family at all Wells Fargo Bank branches called the Frank Motta Memorial Fund.
The VA hospital is also planning a service, but a time hasn’t been announced yet.
