Rathdrum man sentenced to 10 years in prison for deadly DUI crash

RATHDRUM, ID -- A Kootenai County judge sentenced a Rathdrum man to 10 years in prison with parole eligibility after two years for drunk driving in a deadly crash.

According to the Kootenai County Prosecutor's Office, 34-year-old Emil Joe, a passenger, and Joe's 19-year-old cousin were all driving southbound on Meyer Road July 27, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.

Investigators say Joe and his passenger had seatbelts, but Joe's cousin was sitting on a bucket without a seatbelt.

A tractor on the northbound side of Meyer Road with hazard lights on was preparing to turn. Investigators say Joe tried passing the tractor at the moment it started to turn and the vehicles crashed. Joe's cousin died from the crash.

Deputies say Joe had a blood alcohol content of 0.20 which is above the legal limit of 0.08. He was convicted of felony vehicular manslaughter.

The prosecutor's office says Joe has another sentencing May 16 for an unrelated DUI on October 22.

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