KALISPELL (AP) – A woman involved in a head-on collision in October that killed a Montana Highway Patrol trooper has been sentenced to 30 days in jail.
JenniRae Bloom, 22, had pleaded no contest earlier this month to careless driving resulting in a death.
Justice of the Peace David Ortley sentenced Bloom Thursday to six months in jail with all but 30 days suspended and ordered her to report to jail by Jan. 2. He also fined her $5,035, but said she could instead pay the money to a fund set up for the family of Trooper David Graham, 36.
Bloom told investigators she was reaching down to pick something up when her truck swerved and crashed into an unmarked sedan being driven by Graham.
After the collision, the pickup went airborne and landed on its passenger side near the shoulder of the road, a witness said.
Bloom, who suffered a broken leg in the Oct. 9 crash, was also ordered to work with the Montana Highway Patrol in educating young drivers about the consequences of careless driving.