Plea hearing delayed again for driver accused of crashing into Baker FFA bus while drunk
Published 7:18 am Monday, October 7, 2024
- This bus, which was carrying FFA students at a state convention on March 22, 2024, was hit by a drunk driver near Redmond. Four students were treated at a hospital.
The Central Oregon woman charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants in the March 22 crash that injured several Baker High School students attending the state FFA convention in Redmond was granted a second delay in entering a plea in Deschutes County Circuit Court.
Katrina Nicole Dacus, 35, of Culver, was originally scheduled to enter a plea to 26 criminal charges, including drunken driving, recklessly endangering another person and fourth-degree assault, on July 24.
A judge granted a motion from Dacus’ attorney, Daniel Olsen of Bend, to reschedule the plea hearing until Sept. 4.
On Aug. 30, Joseph A. Langerman, a deputy district attorney in Deschutes County, filed a motion seeking another postponement.
“The State needs more time to consult with the named victims and their families in this matter before extending a plea offer,” Langerman wrote in his motion, which was granted.
Dacus is now scheduled to enter a plea on Oct. 16.
Langerman wrote in his motion that “this is a complex case. There are 15 victims in this case, with the majority being children. The State and Defendant have begun preliminary discussions regarding resolution, however, and defense has just asked for a plea offer; the State still needs to consult with all victims and/or their families before sending a formal plea offer to defense.”
In addition to the drunken driving count, Dacus is charged with eight counts of fourth-degree assault, 15 counts of recklessly endangering another person, one count of reckless driving and one count of second-degree criminal mischief (for damage to the bus).
Four of the BHS students were treated at a hospital after the crash. Dacus drove past a stop sign where a road meets Highway 126 on the west side of Redmond and crashed into the bus.
Dacus was cited for driving while her license was suspended on June 13 on Highway 97 near Madras.
On May 29, students at Baker High School had a chance to see the crumpled bus. Bibiana Gifft, the FFA advisor who was driving the bus in Redmond, talked with BHS students. Baker County District Attorney Greg Baxter, and Baker City Police Chief Ty Duby, talked with senior government classes about the dangers of driving while intoxicated.
