Baker pleads guilty to vehicular homicide
POLSON — In District Court Wednesday morning, Jana Marie Baker pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide while under the influence for the 2008 death of Shari Ann Tiger, a passenger who was killed when Baker caused a head-on collision.
Pursuant to a plea agreement, Baker will be sentenced to 10 years in jail with five of those years suspended. Deliberate homicide while under the influence carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in the state prison and $50,000 in fines.
According to court documents, charges against Baker stem from a Dec. 17, 2008 incident on U.S. Hwy 93.
That evening, law enforcement was alerted to a potentially intoxicated driver when a citizen called dispatch to report that the black Buick in front of him was swerving and crossing the center line of the highway near mile marker 21.
While still on the phone with dispatch, the citizen noticed, and reported to authorities, that the car had crossed into the northbound lane and crashed into an oncoming vehicle.
When the responding officer arrived on scene he noted that Baker, the driver, was receiving medical attention and that another woman, later identified as Tiger, was dead in the front seat of Baker’s black Buick.
Court documents indicate that the other vehicle, a Honda Pilot, was in a ditch on the south side of the highway; fire personnel were attempting to extricate the passenger, the driver was being attended to by medical responders.
Suspecting intoxication, the responding officer ordered a blood sample from Baker.
Shortly thereafter, Montana Highway Patrol Officer Chad Dever interviewed Baker at St. Patrick’s hospital where she admitted to drinking alcohol and taking prescription medications prior to the crash. When asked if she believed she was impaired, Baker replied she “probably was.”
Her BAC was measured at .08.
Based on that information, Baker was charged with vehicular homicide while under the influence, the charge which she pleaded guilty to Wednesday morning.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 20, 9 a.m.