Truck Driver Pleads Guilty to Injuring a Pocatello Woman

Shane Ray Warr, 58, a Blackfoot truck driver, pleaded guilty as charged for driving under the influence on August 2nd. His drunken driving had seriously injured a local Pocatello woman in February,  on Interstate 15.

Though this plea deal does not lessen his sentence of 15 years, nor overlook the $1,500 fine, it will dismiss the two misdemeanors of – possession of an open alcoholic beverage container while driving and carrying a concealed weapon under the influence.

In February, Warr had signed a conditional dismissal document, stating that “if he pleads guilty to and is sentenced to at least one felony charge,” associated with felony aggravated DUI case, the misdemeanors stated before would not be filed.

The crash occurred on February 3rd at 4 p.m. on the southbound lanes of Interstate 15, near milepost 68, Pocatello. According to the Idaho State Police troopers and the Idaho state journalists at the site, it was a multi-vehicle crash involving Warr’s semi-truck and two passenger vehicles.

Though initially, Warr stated that the only alcoholic beverage he had was a Twisted Tea in Malad, the police troopers investigating him could clearly smell the alcoholic odor on his breath. Troopers also found many open containers of alcoholic beverages in his truck. Warr also said that he was suffering from sleep apnoea, but the breathalyzer tests showed his alcoholic level to be 0.132 and 0.124. Both were way over the legal limit of 0.8. As Warr had already been convicted of a DUI charge in August 2016, the case turned more against him.

After the crash injuring the Pocatello woman, Warr was arrested and moved to Bannock County jail, from which he was released on his own recognizance. His initial appearance was before District Judge R Todd Garbett. The plea deal Warr signed also states that if any of the victims or the victim’s family members are to file a class-action lawsuit against Warr and the company he was working for, the TEC distribution of Idaho, Warr is to pay the needed restitution. DUI cases like these need proper representation. Contact us to learn more.