Bottineau County (trfnews.i234.me) — Ryan J. Anderson of Towner, North Dakota, has been formally charged with felony criminal vehicular homicide following a deadly crash on September 10th, 2023, that claimed the life of Joey Mattern, according to court documents.
Authorities say Anderson was behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Silverado that crashed at the intersection of 69th Street Northeast and Willow City Road, just outside of Towner. Following the crash, Anderson was located at a nearby residence where he told residents he had been “out walking” and discovered the crash scene. However, Anderson was missing one shoe, and investigators found the matching shoe at the crash site, where Mattern’s body was found next to the overturned pickup.
Surveillance footage from Shooters Bar earlier that evening showed both Anderson and Mattern appearing unsteady, with poor balance. Investigators now confirm that DNA evidence links Anderson to the driver’s seat of the vehicle.
Additionally, court records show that Anderson has a history of prior DUI convictions, which may impact sentencing if convicted.
The case is moving forward in Bottineau County District Court, with more details expected in the coming weeks.
I’m Chris Harper, and I’m reporting for TRF News.
Did you know?
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North Dakota law allows for felony criminal vehicular homicide charges when alcohol, drugs, or reckless behavior contribute to a fatal crash.
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A felony vehicular homicide conviction in North Dakota can carry a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
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Bottineau County has seen a rise in alcohol-related crashes over the past 5 years, according to state traffic data.