Man charged in fatal I-15 crash cooperating with investigators, gave voluntary blood sample
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BINGHAM COUNTY — Idaho State Police say the man responsible for a crash Wednesday evening that killed an Idaho Falls woman and her horse on I-15 is fully cooperating with investigators.
Dirk Johnson, 59, was booked into the Bingham County Jail on a misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charge.
According to court records, Johnson told investigators that traffic began to slow in front of him when he attempted to stop to avoid a rear end collision. Johnson is said to have then veered into oncoming traffic, colliding head on into a Dodge 2500 pickup truck pulling a horse trailer.
Shirley Williams, 65, of Idaho Falls, was traveling southbound in the Dodge. She was rushed by ambulance to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, where she died. Her horse was killed immediately.
The crash happened just before 5 p.m. Wednesday on I-15 near mile marker 112 south of Idaho Falls in a construction zone.
ISP says Johnson has fully cooperated and gave a voluntary blood draw. Results of the blood test could take several weeks but investigators say if there were any drugs or alcohol in Johnson’s system, they will be able to determine the amount consumed and if it impaired his driving.
The results will then be forwarded to Bingham County Prosecuting Attorney.
Johnson appeared in magistrate court Thursday morning and pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was released on $1,000 bond and is due back in court in late July.
