17-Year-Old Charged in Passenger Fatality

17-year-old Dylan Gamel was charged for careless driving after he failed to properly observe a stop sign, resulting in the death of a passenger in his car.  Gamel pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor careless driving charge– causing serious bodily injury and or death.  He appeared on Tuesday in Yellowstone County Justice Court.
Judge pro tem Greg Murphy allowed Gamel to remain free before a March trial.  The incident occurred at about 5:20 p.m. on Sept. 17, 2015, Gamel was driving on North 12th Road near Worden– he was 15 at the time and did not have a driver’s license– 18-year-old Zackery Kirkpatrick died in the accident.  At an intersection on North 12th Road, Gamel’s 1994 Honda Accord hit a Silver GMC Yukon, according to court documents.  Gamel reportedly failed to stop at the stop sign before entering the intersection.  The Montana Highway Patrol responded to the fatality scene.