Manslaughter suspect pleading innocent

SANDPOINT — A Washington state man accused of causing a deadly crash on U.S. Highway 95 is pleading not guilty.

Chief Public Defender Isabella Robertson entered the plea on William David Deardorff’s behalf during his arraignment on Monday.

Deardorff is charged with vehicular manslaughter and aggravated driving under the influence. A five-day jury trial in 1st District Court is scheduled to start on May 11.

Deardorff remains held at the Bonner County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bail. A defense motion for reduced bail is scheduled to be heard on Thursday.

Idaho State Police allege Deardorff was southbound in a pickup truck when he drifted into the northbound lane and crashed head-on into a Jeep Cherokee in the Careywood area. The Jeep’s front-seat passenger, 44-year-old Kimberlee R. Dingman, suffered fatal injuries. The Jeep’s driver, 31-year-old Crystal Bertolucci, was severely injured.

Deardorff, a 53-year-old from Spokane, was also injured and was hospitalized before being jailed.

A state trooper testified last month that the collision occurred entirely within the northbound lane of travel. Deardorff’s blood-alcohol content was measured at 0.12, according to court documents.

Bonner County Deputy Prosecutor Roger Hanlon alleges in a criminal complaint that Deardorff’s impairment and grossly negligent driving caused the death of Dingman. If convicted of the manslaughter charge, he faces 10-15 years in prison.