8/30/2008 4:21:00 PM Donald Kruse heads to trial Attention focused on cheerleaders case
Donald James Kruse
VVN/Jon Hutchinson
Last September, five high school cheerleaders were seriously injured when Donald Kruse passed out at the wheel of his full-sized pickup and drove-head on into the small Toyota that carried the girls during their lunch hour. Kruse faces a four-day trial on charges that emerged from the collision.
Donald Kruse heads to court beginning Wednesday for trial on charges related to last September's head-on crash into a small Toyota filled with Mingus High School cheerleaders. All five girls were sent to Cottonwood, Flagstaff or Phoenix hospitals with various injuries, some very serious.
The girls are now out of hospitals and have been attending hearings. They are expected to be in court with their families and friend for the four-day trial.
The day of the crash, police reported that the 53-year old driver had been impaired by alcohol and drugs and had passed out at the wheel. The full-sized Chevy crew cab pickup crossed all lanes of traffic and plowed head-on into the small blue car, window-painted with school cheers.
Just recently, it was reported in court that Kruse had "zero" alcohol in his system, according to his breath test. However, he admitted that he had taken a morning dose of methadone, a medical maintenance drug substitute, commonly used for addicts to replace heroin or morphine.
The investigating Cottonwood Police officer told the court that the driver's eyes were constricted and watery and he was swaying heavily after the accident. He also reported that Kruse told him that he had smoked marijuana a week before the accident.
Kruse was originally charged with eight counts of aggravated assault and drug possession or use, including a dangerous prescription drug, marijuana, paraphernalia and two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Five counts were dismissed by Judge Warren Darrow on Thursday.
Two counts of aggravated assault had been charged to Kruse in the case of each of four of the girls with the most serious injuries, Shantel Haught, Kylee Koepnick, Lacy Stokes and Caysha McComack. The first of each pair charged he "knowingly and recklessly caused serious physical injury." Those counts one, three, five and seven were dismissed.
The second count of each pair, charging "aggravated assault causing physical injury with a deadly weapon" (Kruse's pickup) remain active offenses.
Darrow also dismissed count 9 charging criminal damage to the pickup truck he was driving, which is registered to Hazel Kruse.
The collision prompted the Mingus School Board to implement a closed campus policy for its students. That policy was later withdrawn.
