Montana News

Kepler charged in death of Ronan woman in I-90 crash

Posted: Jan 29, 2013 8:01 PM by MTN News

DEER LODGE - Christopher Kepler of Sand Point, Idaho, will receive a mental health examination and plead not guilty for reportedly causing a deadly wrong-way crash.

Kepler, 41, is charged with felony deliberate homicide with an alternative charge of negligent homicide.

Earlier this month Kepler was reportedly driving the wrong way at speeds in excess of 95 miles per hour on Interstate 90.

Kepler allegedly hit a vehicle head-on that killed 57-year old Patricia Graves of Ronan.

Kepler is also charged with felony assault with a weapon and criminal endangerment.

He faces a fourth charge of misdemeanor of driving with a suspended license.

The judge granted a motion that Kepler receive a mental health examination at the Montana State Hospital.

An omnibus hearing has been scheduled for February 26th.

(January 9, 2012) The Montana Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal wrong-way crash that happened around noon on Tuesday on Interstate 90 near Deer Lodge.

Authorities say a 41-year-old Idaho man was driving his Ford westbound in the eastbound lane of I-90 when he hit a 2004 Dodge truck head-on.

The truck's passenger, a 57-year-old woman from Ronan, was pronounced dead on the scene while the driver of the truck, a 61-year-old Ronan man, was taken to the hospital.

The man who caused the accident was also taken to the hospital, but there's no word yet on how badly hurt he was.

Troopers say no arrests have been made yet in connection with the crash, adding that everyone involved was wearing their seat belts.