Kooskia man gets 10 years in manslaughter case

GRANGEVILLE - A Kooskia man was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison for vehicular manslaughter in connection with the death of a 75-year-old Kooskia woman.

Judge Gregory Fitzmaurice of the Idaho 2nd Judicial District sentenced David R. Mcintyre, 26, to five years fixed and five years indeterminate for the Oct. 25, 2016, incident. The judge also retained jurisdiction for 365 days, after which he will review the sentence.

Mcintyre reached a plea agreement with Idaho County Prosecutor Kirk A. MacGregor in October and pleaded guilty to the felony charge.

According to previous court records, Mcintyre was driving east on U.S. Highway 12 at milepost 71 in a 1996 Ford Mustang when he abruptly crossed the center line and struck head-on a 2001 Dodge Neon driven by Eleanor A. Chandler. Mcintyre's vehicle then spun around and hit a 2009 Ford Escape driven by Karl M. Nelson, 58, of Kamiah. Chandler's vehicle went off the embankment on the eastbound side of the road, as did Nelson's.

Chandler died at the scene. Nelson and his wife, Stephanie H. Nelson, 56, were transported to Syringa General Hospital in Grangeville, where they were treated and released.

Mcintyre also was injured in the accident and received medical treatment. According to an Idaho State Police investigation, prior to the accident, Mcintyre had left a note at the Kooskia Cafe threatening to kill himself.

Chandler was represented by the Idaho County public defender firm of McFarland law offices.

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Hedberg may be contacted at kathyhedberg@gmail.com or (208) 983-2326.