Wrongful death suit filed over U.S. 95 crash

SANDPOINT — The family of a woman killed in a collision on U.S. Highway 95 last year is suing a Bonner County man for wrongful death.

The suit brought by William Van Rice, Dusti Lynn Thompson and Christine Maire Kaufman alleges negligence on the part of Donald Lee Wolfe.

The suit alleges Wolfe crossed the center line while driving southbound in Careywood on July 15, 2018. Wolfe sideswiped a northbound vehicle before crashing into a vehicle in which Louise Rice was a passenger, according to the suit.

“As a result of the careless, negligent and reckless driving of the defendant, the vehicle collision referred to above caused serious and grievous injury to Louise Rice, ultimately leading to her death,” Post Falls attorney James Bendell said in a complaint for wrongful death filed in 1st District Court on Tuesday.

Wolfe, 76, was cited for reckless driving in connection with the crash, court records show. He pleaded not guilty and subsequently entered an Alford plea to an amended charge of inattentive driving. Under the terms of such a plea, a defendant admits no wrongdoing but concedes a conviction could be obtained if the case was put before a jury.

Wolfe was given a suspended 30-day jail sentence and ordered to perform 40 hours of community service. He was also fined $300, according to Bonner County Magistrate Court records.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.