A fatal crash allegedly involving a Bingham County, Idaho, sheriff’s deputy occurred on Wolverine Road in Firth, Idaho, in February 2024. (Google Maps). Inset: Stephanie Grisham (Bingham County Sheriff’s Office Facebook).
Prosecutors in Idaho have charged now-former Bingham County Sheriff’s Deputy Stephanie Grisham with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter after they say she caused a two-car collision in February, killing an 80-year-old man and injuring his wife as she was texting while driving.
The crash occurred on Feb. 1 on Wolverine Road west of the 600 North and 1100 East intersection near Goshen in Bingham County. Grisham was charged last week, East Idaho News first reported on July 29, citing a probable cause affidavit.
A Firth, Idaho, fire captain who responded to the wreck relayed to a detective what the deputy allegedly said to him after the crash.
“I screwed up. I was on my phone texting. I’m such an idiot,” Grisham allegedly said, according to the affidavit.
An attorney for Grisham did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
Grisham was driving a black Ford Explorer SUV patrol vehicle and headed westbound on Wolverine Road on Feb. 1., the affidavit reportedly states. Dashcam footage allegedly showed her patrol car veering into the oncoming eastbound lane and colliding head-on with a Dodge Ram pickup truck.
Inside that truck was Idahoan Robert Beal, 80, and Beal’s 76-year-old wife riding in the passenger seat.
After the collision, no one was able to escape their vehicles and all had to be extricated by emergency medical personnel.
Beal died at the scene and his wife was treated for injuries after being transported to an area hospital. No details were disclosed about the extent of the 76-year-old woman’s injuries nor were any details shared by Idaho State Police on the extent of injuries Grisham may have sustained, East Idaho News reported.
The outlet also reported that police compared Grisham’s dashcam footage with data on her mobile phone and saw that text message activity had occurred at the same time of the collision.
Grisham, who had nine years of patrol service experience, faces up to one year in jail and/or a fine of $2,000. She will be arraigned at the Bingham County Courthouse on Aug. 12 at 3 p.m. She was summoned to appear for that hearing, meaning she was not in detention. She has entered a written plea of not guilty.
Grisham’s attorney Dennis Wilkinson told USA Today that his client had no comment on the matter.
Bingham Sheriff Jeff Gardner disclosed that Grisham resigned from her post once criminal proceedings were announced and an investigation into her conduct was completed, according to the Idaho State Journal.
“We consider that day a tragedy all around,” Gardner wrote before also emphasizing that because Grisham was a deputy at the sheriff’s office, the sheriff’s office had to recuse itself from any official involvement with the probe into her alleged conduct and let Idaho State Police take over.
“Upon completion of the criminal investigation, the Idaho State Police recommended criminal charges and submitted their findings. The Bingham County Prosecuting Attorney also made the decision that any legal review for charges should be conflicted out to another County. The Madison County Prosecutor’s Office was appointed by the courts to act as a Special Prosecutor in this matter,” Gardner wrote.
He added: “We thank the amazing public that we serve for their patience while we have navigated this matter. We have attempted to maintain the appropriate level of transparency, while respecting due process. We offer our sincere condolences to the Beal Family and all those affected.”
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