Man charged with murder after crash

ATHOL — A Bonners Ferry man is in jail on $1 million bond after police said he shot a woman while she was driving Tuesday, causing her to lose control of her vehicle and cross into oncoming traffic.

Victor A. Claus, 55, is charged with murder.

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office responded Tuesday to a report of a multi-vehicle crash on U.S. 95 near Athol.

Sandpoint resident Melyssa L. Schloe, 45, was reportedly traveling northbound in a Toyota Tundra when she crossed the center line and sideswiped a motorcycle and another vehicle, according to a sheriff's office press release. Police said Claus was a passenger in Schloe’s vehicle.

The impact caused the second vehicle to roll, injuring the driver, 64-year-old Colleen K. Watkins of Hayden. Watkins was transported to Kootenai Health with non-life threatening injuries, as was Claus.

Schloe was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said Thursday that information gleaned from the crime scene and the autopsy indicated that Claus shot Schloe.

The pair were in a romantic relationship, police said.

Motive has not yet been established.

Police obtained a warrant for Claus’ arrest and took him into custody on Thursday afternoon, after he was released from the hospital.

Norris encouraged anyone who saw the Toyota Tundra while it was traveling northbound to contact the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, 208-446-1300.