WATFORD CITY, ND — A December jury trial has been scheduled for a man charged in a deadly September 2025 collision at the intersection of U.S. Highway 85 and County Road 30, south of Watford City.
Mickey Alonzo Gramley faces two Class B felony manslaughter charges and one Class C felony reckless endangerment charge involving extreme indifference. The case stems from a crash on Sept. 28, 2025, that killed 25-year-old Hannah Kocher and 5-year-old November Reinoehl and left the child’s father, 24-year-old Jacob Shepard, with life-threatening injuries.
Court records show Gramley has pleaded not guilty and remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Prosecutors say the semi entered the intersection and struck a southbound car
According to information previously released by the North Dakota Highway Patrol and allegations in court filings, Gramley was driving a semi-truck when he entered the intersection and collided with a southbound passenger vehicle.
Investigators allege he failed to stop at the intersection and was traveling faster than the posted speed limit. Court documents also say Gramley told investigators that sunlight interfered with his ability to see the stop sign.
The criminal case centers on whether the crash was caused by negligent driving and disregard for the intersection controls. Those allegations will be tested in district court, where the scheduled trial is expected to examine the physical evidence, witness accounts and law enforcement findings tied to the wreck.
Trial date moved to mid-December in McKenzie County District Court
The North Dakota court docket shows a five-day jury trial set to begin Dec. 14 at 9 a.m. before District Judge Daniel El-Dweek. A felony dispositional conference is scheduled for Dec. 3.
The trial had previously been set for October before being pushed back. That gives both sides additional time before the case is heard in open court.
The docket also shows the matter remains pending in McKenzie County District Court. Because Gramley has entered not guilty pleas, the prosecution will need to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt if the case goes to verdict.
Subpoenas seek records from engineering, road and transportation agencies
Recent court activity includes three subpoenas duces tecum filed Oct. 15 and 16. The orders seek records or other evidence from KLJ Engineering, the McKenzie County Road and Bridge Department and the North Dakota Department of Transportation.
A subpoena duces tecum is a legal order requiring the production of documents, records or other evidence. The publicly available docket does not say exactly what materials were requested or how they may be used in the case.
Still, the filings suggest attorneys are gathering information related to the roadway, intersection design or maintenance history. Any such materials could become important as both sides prepare for testimony and the presentation of exhibits at trial.
Intersection safety changed after the fatal wreck
Changes have since been observed at the Highway 85 and County Road 30 intersection. Stop signs now include red LED lighting meant to give approaching drivers an additional warning.
A center left-turn lane has also been removed. That change may reduce visibility problems when multiple vehicles are lined up at the intersection, though officials have not publicly detailed every reason for the redesign.
The adjustments came after the September 2025 fatal crash and before another deadly collision at the same junction in April 2026. In that later wreck, 63-year-old Tracy Christensen of Watford City died after investigators said she failed to stop and drove into the path of a southbound tractor-trailer.
Another fatal crash at the same junction underscored the danger
The April 25, 2026 crash added urgency to concerns about the intersection’s safety. Investigators said nearby business surveillance footage showed Christensen failing to stop before entering U.S. Highway 85.
According to those findings, her vehicle moved into the path of the southbound tractor-trailer. The crash killed Christensen and reinforced attention on the junction’s visibility and traffic-control setup.
With two deadly wrecks at the same location in less than a year, the area has become a focus for both courtroom proceedings and roadway changes. The upcoming trial will unfold against that backdrop, with questions about speed, stop-sign visibility and intersection design likely to remain central.