Truck driver charged following chain-reaction DUI crash that killed 73 year old fellow trucker

Idaho authorities have charged a man who they say was under the influence when he caused a fatal multi-vehicle crash in June 2020.

On August 30, Idaho State Police (ISP) arrested Scott M. Roper, 56, on a charge of felony vehicular manslaughter.

The charge stems from a crash that occurred on June 8 near St. Anthony.

Troopers say that around 3:40 p.m., Roper was driving a truck west on U.S. Highway 20 at mile marker 353 when he crossed the center line and and struck an eastbound semi truck driven by 61 year old Weyland Schenk, Jr. This crash caused Schenk to strike a pickup traveling behind Roper.

ISP says that Roper veered back into the westbound lane, then once again crossed over into the eastbound lane, striking a semi truck driven by 73 year old Joseph Sturgeon.

Sturgeon was pronounced dead at the scene.

The pickup driver was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. Roper was airlifted to a hospital for treatment.

Troopers said that when searching the cab of Roper’s truck, they found a half-full bottle of whisky and a bottle containing various pills.

A blood test found amphetamine, methamphetamine, clonazepam, cyclobenzaprine, diazepam, and nordiazepam in Roper’s system, the East Idaho News reports.

During a Monday court appearance, a judge set Roper’s bail at $100,000. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing September 14.