Vehicular homicide charges filed in Highway 2 collision
Homicide charges have been filed against a Libby woman involved in a fatal two-vehicle crash in 2012 on U.S. Highway 2 between Libby and Troy.
Sue Linette Wilson, 47, is charged with vehicular homicide while under the influence and an alternative charge of negligent homicide, along with one count of felony negligent vehicular assault and two misdemeanor counts of negligent vehicular assault.
According to the charging documents filed Dec. 31 in district court, Wilson was under the influence of drugs when she lost control of her vehicle on Dec. 20, 2012, causing a collision that killed 67-year-old Linda Dabel of Libby and injured several others. The documents also contend that the rear tires on Wilson’s vehicle were nearly bald, which could have contributed to the crash.
The charge of vehicular homicide while under the influence carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. The alternative charge of negligent homicide is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and felony negligent vehicular assault carries a maximum term of 10 years.
Montana Highway Patrol officers who investigated the crash concluded that Wilson lost control of her eastbound 1990 Ford Bronco in slush and snow and crossed the center line of the highway near mile marker 22, where it was struck on the driver’s side by a westbound 2001 Dodge Caravan driven by Dabel.
Dabel was extricated from her vehicle and taken by ambulance to the hospital in Libby, where she later died of her injuries.
A front-seat passenger in Dabel’s vehicle, Jessica Caldwell of Troy, was injured and transported to the hospital for treatment. Two rear-seat passengers, 2-year-old Caden Caldwell and 2-week-old Brennan Caldwell, were treated for minor injuries.
A passenger in Wilson’s vehicle, Jennifer Wilson of Libby, was also treated for injuries following the crash.
According to court documents, one of the investigating Highway Patrol officers found a prescription for the pain-killing drug morphine on the floor of Wilson’s vehicle after the crash, and a blood test was administered to check for the presence of the drug. Results of the test have not been made public.
Wilson is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges on Feb. 2.