Vehicle homicide trial continues

WORLAND — The couple who arrived first on the scene of the fatal crash in May 2014 that took the life of a Thermopolis woman, testified Tuesday in the case of the State of Wyoming versus Cody Shinost of Thermopolis.

Shinost is charged with aggravated vehicular homicide for the death of Madisen A. Price. According to the initial Wyoming Highway Patrol report, Price, 21, of Thermopolis was killed when the vehicle she was in left the roadway and rolled two times at 9:50 p.m. on May 14, 2014. The crash occurred approximately 15 miles north of Thermopolis on WY 172. The state, through Hot Springs County Attorney Jerry Williams, alleges Shinost was driving while intoxicated when the crash occurred. The trial was moved to Washakie County after Judge Robert Skar granted a change of venue motion, due to “written and oral communication” about the crash.

Weston Jones was called to the stand to testify about what he saw when he came across the accident May 14, 2014. He stated that he had seen a vehicle off the side of the road upright and thought that the driver had either hit a deer or just gone off the road. He then went home and had his wife call dispatch to see if the accident had been reported. He and his wife returned to the scene to see if there was someone walking.

When they returned to the accident, Jones turned his vehicle so that the lights were facing the vehicle and saw Shinost waving from the passenger seat. His wife spoke with Shinost while he spoke with Dylan Balstad, a passenger in the vehicle.

Jones said he asked Balstad several times how many people were in the car and he replied several times just them (Shinost and Balstad).

Jones then found Madisen Price who was deceased, behind the vehicle. Williams asked Jones the position of Madisen. She was on her back with her legs straight out, one arm over her chest and the other beside her, he said.

Delanie Price, 18 at the time of the crash, was not found until emergency and rescue crews arrived and the headlights illuminated the girl. Both Delanie and Madisen A. Price, according to the original WHP report, were ejected from the vehicle.

Jones also stated that the passenger side door was missing when he and his wife arrived at the scene. Williams asked about the driver’s door and Jones stated that the driver’s door was there and closed but he could not remember the condition of the window.

Senior Assistant Public Defender H. Richard Hopkinson, representing Shinost had no questions for Jones.

Heather Jones testified that one male passenger was in the front passenger seat and one male passenger was in the backseat and that she mainly tried to keep the boys talking while waiting for emergency workers.

Hopkinson asked Heather Jones about her and her husband thinking the vehicle might have hit a deer and if it was unusual for deer to be hit in that area? To which she replied that it wasn’t unusual. He then asked her if it was possible that the accident may have been caused because the vehicle had swerved to miss a deer. She said it was possible

Williams countered asking if she saw a dead or injured deer? “No,” she said.

Vehicle investigation

Williams also called Wyoming Department of Transportation senior head mechanic Brandon Blakesley to the stand Tuesday to testify about the vehicle inspection he performed with Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Jeramy Pittsley, on the 1997 Ford Mustang.

Blakesley explained that he had checked anything on the vehicle that could have caused the accident. Williams asked for specific items that were looked at, with Blakesly responding brakes, ball joints and more.

Williams asked if any mechanical issue was found to cause the accident and Blakesley stated no.

A Hot Springs County Hospital emergency room trauma nurse, lab technician, emergency room doctor and registered nurse were also called to testify, mainly on the protocol that is used and whether or not it was used for the patients on the night of the accident.

The trial will resume today. One expert witness from Cheyenne, will testify via live video feed, due to adverse weather.