11/04/2026
Monnat & Spurrier joins in mourning the precious lives lost or irrevocably altered by the horrific incident at the Stryker Sports Complex.
In the pain and confusion, it is easy to speculate and form rash judgments, but each and every one of us is entitled to the presumption of innocence and proof beyond a reasonable doubt. KWCH 12 News turned to Dan Monnat to help break down the investigative process that helps protect that right.
It is not enough if the driver is seen exiting the vehicle in an accident resulting in injuries and death. A criminal offense requires both a criminal act and the requisite state of mind. There must be “probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed and that the detained person committed it.”
Police and prosecutors are wisely leaving no stone unturned in this investigation. There is a lot of evidence to collect and sift through from an open venue the size of the Stryker Sports Complex possibly including: even more interviews, facility security videos, cellphone videos, the truck’s black box and mechanics, the prescriptions and medical history of the driver, the driver’s toxicology results, or a download of the driver’s cellphone.
Legally and ethically, “a district attorney cannot file charges against anybody unless he has probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed. He has to also have admissible evidence that he believes can sustain a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt in court.”
In answering why the driver was released from custody, Monnat reminds us, “If they don’t have enough probable cause to charge her, they really don’t have enough to keep her in jail.”
The events at the Stryker Sports Complex are undoubtedly heartbreaking, but they may not be a crime. “[A]ctual, random accidents without human fault do occur. Not every tragedy deserves a prosecution.”
Check out the comments for the full KWCH story.
