A Kansas man charged with two felonies in the traffic death of an Alliance woman made his first court appearance Tuesday morning.
36-year-old Ryan McElroy of Salina, Kansas had the charges against him read out loud by County Court Judge Paul Wess.
McElroy is charged with felony counts of Manslaughter and Motor Vehicle Homicide and misdemeanor counts of Third Offense Drunk Driving as well as Willful Reckless Driving.
22-year-old Blythe Boness was killed when McElroy’s vehicle struck Bonness’ vehicle east of Alliance on Highway 2 on April 10. Boness died at the scene while McElroy was flown to Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff. At the hospital, McElroy refused to consent to a blood alcohol test. The Nebraska State Patrol was granted a warrant by Judge Jamie Worden to conduct the test. Test results were not yet available Tuesday morning.
During Tuesday’s proceeding, McElroy told the court that he could not afford to hire an attorney. Judge Wess then appointed Stacy Bach of Scottsbluff to represent McElroy.
McElroy is scheduled to appear in County Court again on Thursday, April 21 at 8:45 AM with Bach. At that time a date and time for a Preliminary Hearing will be set.
McElroy is currently incarcerated in the Box Butte County Jail in Alliance. His bond continues at 10% of $100,000.