CASPER — A 23-year-old Casper man faces charges for allegedly driving his pickup through a south Casper neighborhood stop sign while intoxicated Sunday night and hitting a Honda with three teens, sending all three to the hospital.
Jakob Klinger appeared in Casper Circuit Court on Monday from jail via video to face three felony charges of driving while under the influence with serious bodily injury.
Police were called to the intersection to East 21st Street and South Beverly Street about 10:45 p.m Sunday and found the two-vehicle crash with a gold Honda engine compartment crushed to the windshield by the pickup, court documents state. The Honda carried three teens ranging in age from 14 to 17 years old.
Klinger was pulling his unconscious 49-year-old mother from his pickup as police arrived. She was transported to Banner Wyoming Medical Center by EMS, a court affidavit states.
What Happened?
Court documents show the teen driver of the Honda told police she was traveling east on 21st Street, stopped at the intersection and started to turn north on Beverly when the truck heading west on 21st Street failed to stop at the stop sign and hit her vehicle.
Klinger initially told police that he had nothing to drink and that he, his mother and a 21-year-old female passenger were on their way home from a Halloween party.
An officer interviewing Klinger could smell alcohol and his speech was slurred, an arrest affidavit states.
Klinger was asked to do a field sobriety test, which showed signs of impairment, including his inability to balance and follow instructions.
“Jakob then admitted to sharing a pitcher of Coors Light with (his mother) at Moonlight Liquors approximately 5 minutes before the crash,” the affidavit states.
Accident investigators concluded that Klinger’s pickup was traveling between 40 and 50 mph in the 30 mph zone and failed to yield at the intersection.
“Additionally, crash investigators did not observe any indicators that the Chevrolet truck attempted to brake before collision,” the affidavit states. The vehicles ended up approximately 20 to 30 feet west of the intersection of Beverly and 21st.
Multiple Injuries
Klinger’s mother suffered head and facial injuries. The driver of the Honda suffered a broken nose and cracked vertebra to her lower back, a 17-year-old male passenger in the Honda needed staples in his head and suffered a concussion, and a 14-year-old female sustained a broken clavicle, the affidavit states.
Appearing before Judge Kevin Taheri in Casper Circuit Court on Monday, Klinger told the judge he understood the charges against him.
Natrona County District Attorney Dan Itzen pointed out that Klinger has several past charges, including a drug charge in 2022, driving while under the influence in 2020, and a previous reckless driving charge.
He also was driving on a suspended license Sunday, court documents show.
Judge Taheri set bond at $50,000. Klinger remains in the Natrona County jail.
Each count of driving under the influence with serious bodily injury carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine between $2,000 and $5,000.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
