A June 18 trial date has been set for Sela Anne Kalama, 19, of Queets, who has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Tacoma on a charge of involuntary manslaughter.
Kalama is accused of causing the deaths of two people when she drove her car into the Elwha River early March 18.
Kalama, a member of the Quinault Tribe, entered a plea of not guilty on Friday.
The grand jury handed down the indictment April 18, writing that she was “grossly negligent” because of drinking alcohol, using her cellular phone while driving and driving too fast for the pitch-black conditions.
A grand jury indictment is necessary before a federal trial can proceed.
The trial will be in federal district court in Tacoma.
Vanna K. Francis, a 17-year old member of the Lower Elwha Tribe, and Ronnie L. Scroggins, a 15-year old Makah, died in the river.
The other five in the car, including Kalama, escaped.
Kalama was released from jail shortly after her arrest.
She will be allowed to continue living with her family in Queets until the trial.
Kalama told investigators the day of the deaths that she consumed between 14 and 16 cans of beer the evening and night before driving on the Lower Elwha Road, which at that time led directly into the river with no barrier across it.
A blood test eight hours later showed she had no blood alcohol concentration.
In earlier court proceedings, Kalama’s attorney, Mariam Schwartz, focused on the safety of the Lower Elwha Road and the absence of a barrier, berm or blockade next to the river.
Schwartz said during a hearing April 6 that anyone driving that morning under a new moon could have driven into the river.
A berm has since been installed to stop traffic at the water’s edge.
