Post Falls driver in deadly crash faces charge

SANDPOINT — A criminal charge is pending against a Post Falls man who was involved in a crash on U.S. 95 that claimed the life of a Bonner County woman last summer.

The charge against Alexander Christopher Hjelt remains filed under seal until he makes an initial appearance in Bonner County Magistrate Court on Feb. 5. The charge in the case is a misdemeanor, according to the Idaho Supreme Court Data Repository.

The crash happened on the afternoon of June 2, 2015.

Idaho State Police said Hjelt was northbound near West Elmira Road when he failed to stop for traffic ahead of him that was stopping on the highway. Hjelt's Chevrolet Silverado crashed into the back end of a Saturn driven by Kathleen L. Ginter, pushing the four-door into the southbound lane of travel and into the path of an oncoming Mercury Marquis.

The Marquis struck the passenger side of Ginter's Saturn, causing it to overturn and stop in a ditch on the west side of the highway.

Ginter, 60, was fatally injured in the collision. The driver of the Marquis, 22-year-old Shayla Hall of Moyie Springs, was injured but survived the crash. Hjelt was uninjured, state police said.

All three motorists were wearing seat belts, according to ISP.