Man who crashed truck into Salmon river charged with manslaughter - East Idaho News
Crime Watch

Man who crashed truck into Salmon river charged with manslaughter

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SALMON — A Salmon man is charged with felony vehicular manslaughter after crashing a truck into the Salmon River in December.

Craig B. Larsen, 22, pleaded not guilty to the charge Tuesday after prosecutors said he is responsible for causing the death of 22-year-old Conner P. McGarrity. Idaho State Police troopers wrote in an affidavit of probable cause that Larsen admitted to drinking before the crash.

Police reports show on Dec. 14, around 8 p.m. Larsen drove a white Chevrolet Silverado towards Salmon on Idaho Highway 93 with McGarrity in the passenger seat. According to court documents, Larsen drove off the road, then overcorrected, flying across both lanes of the highway then overturning into the Salmon River.

First responders rushed to the scene and took the men to Steele Memorial Medical Center in Salmon. While Larsen was released from the hospital, McGarrity was airlifted to another hospital where he died the next morning.

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“Larsen admitted to me that he was driving the Chevrolet when he lost control and crashed into the Salmon River,” a trooper writes in court documents. “Larsen also admitted to consuming four beers prior to the crash.”

Court documents show Larsen blew a .164 and a .163 during a test of his blood alcohol content. The legal limit in Idaho is .08.

Police did not arrest Larsen. Instead, prosecutors filed the manslaughter charge and Larsen was issued a summons to appear in court.

Although Larsen is accused of a crime it does not necessarily mean he committed it. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

If convicted of the felony, Larsen could be ordered to spend up to 15-years in prison.

Larsen is scheduled to face a jury at his trial on Aug. 18.

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