Heart Butte man admits manslaughter charge in fatal crash on Blackfeet Indian Reservation Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Montana Byline: Clair J. Howard Dateline: Great Falls, Montana Date: 17 December 2024 Subjects: American Government , Crime

GREAT FALLS — A Heart Butte man today admitted to causing a fatal crash on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation after he had been drinking and driving, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

The defendant, Chasen James Kipp, 25, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Kipp faces a maximum of eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for April 23, 2025. Kipp was released pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that on Oct. 31, 2023, Kipp was driving a 2022 Dodge Charger near the Cut Bank airport on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation when he crossed the center line of traffic and collided with a sedan. The crash killed the sedan’s driver, identified as Jane Doe. Law enforcement responded and observed Kipp. An officer described Kipp staggering and could smell alcohol on him. A toxicology report showed Kipp had a blood alcohol concentration of .114 and had cocaine in his system. A crash investigation determined that Kipp was going 82 mph in a 65-mph zone when he crossed the center line and struck Doe’s vehicle. Doe was pronounced dead at the scene from blunt force trauma suffered in the crash.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, Cut Bank Police Department, Glacier County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Highway Patrol and FBI conducted the investigation.

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