It appears that a plea deal has been reached in the New Years day crash on Hwy 35 near Holt Drive, west of Bigfork. Charged with a single count of vehicular homicide while under the influence, a change of plea hearing before District Judge Heidi Ulbrecht is set for Febrary 19th. Meanwhile, 31-year old Kala (KAW-luh) Renee Knaus remains in the Flathead County Detention Center on $250,000 bail.
Prosecutors say the crash happened just before 1:30 the New Years morning on Hwy 35 near Holt Drive, west of Bigfork. It was a 2-vehicle head-on crash. When troopers arrived, they found Knaus’ vehicle on its side about 10-feet from the highway. In the vehicle, a woman buckled into the driver’s seat.
A second vehicle–on its wheels, was about 20-feet from the highway and about 100-feet from the first vehicle…both with extensive damage.
The investigating trooper reported Knaus conscious and belligerent. At Logan Health, a toxicology same was taken, showing her blood alcohol content was over twice the legal limit. There were traces of Prozac and the sleep-aid, Unisom in her system.
