Hearing for driver accused of killing two in I-15 crash rescheduled
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POCATELLO — A hearing to determine whether vehicular manslaughter charges will be passed to the District Court has been continued.
Kenneth Dale Conley, 67, appeared before Magistrate Judge Scott Axline Tuesday for what was scheduled to be a preliminary hearing. After a brief discussion, however, Axline accepted the defense’s request to reschedule the hearing for Jan. 2.
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During the discussion, Bannock County Chief Public Defender Dave Martinez said the reason for the request for a continuance a “outstanding discovery matters.” He explained to the court that the prosecution had not yet received an accident reconstruction from Idaho State Police investigators, and that he would have to review that report as well.
The crash occurred around 2 p.m. Aug. 9 on Interstate 15 between Fort Hall and Pocatello. According to Mariah Morales, who was the passenger in one of the vehicles involved, traffic was slowed as it approached a construction zone.
Mariah said she, her sister Monique Morales and their friend Jaren Goering were chatting when a dump truck, driven by Conley, crashed into the back of and over the top of Mariah’s Toyota Avalon.
“The whole driver’s side of my car, on the back and the front, was smashed in,” Mariah told EastIdahoNews.com. “The roof was torn off, my whole car was demolished — besides my seat.”
Both Monique, 27, and Goering, 23, died. Mariah was rushed to the hospital by a responding Idaho State Police trooper for emergency treatment.
Conley’s truck careened off two more vehicles before coming to a stop. Others were treated for injuries at the scene.
Court records show Conley has a history of traffic violations — which has continued since the crash. Conley was charged with leaving the scene of a crash in Madison County just over a month after the fatal collision on I-15.
Prior to the setting of a new date for the preliminary hearing in this matter, Martinez recommended Axline refrain from scheduling other hearings the same day.
Bannock County Assistant Chief Deputy Prosecutor Jonathan Radford concurred, saying he expects this hearing to be “involved.”
Roughly 10 of the victims’ loved ones were in attendance at court for the hearing. Two people were there in support of Conley, who, given one opportunity to speak, insisted that he does not drink alcohol or take drugs — which he did during police questioning.
Following his appearance, Conley was remanded back into the custody of Bannock County Jail staff. He has waived his right to a speedy trial.
Though Conley has been charged with these crimes, it does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until they are proven guilty.
If he is found guilty, Conley would face up to 20 years in prison.