Witt arraigned on indictment in fatal DUII crash

There was another packed courtroom for Tuesday’s arraignment of a Bend woman facing manslaughter, DUII and other charges in a Dec. 30 car-bicycle crash east of Bend that killed a Bend dentist.

Friends and colleagues of Marika Stone, an avid cyclist who died in the Dec. 30 Dodds Road crash, attended the arraignment of Shantel Witt, 41.

Witt was indicted last month on charges of first-degree manslaughter, driving under the influence of intoxicants and two counts of recklessly endangering another person, involving the two cyclists Stone was riding with that day.

Deschutes County Circuit Judge Alta Brady set a March 13 date for Witt to enter a plea to the charges.

As with Witt’s initial court appearance in mid-January, many members of the area’s cycling community were in attendance, many bringing their helmets as a sign of solidarity.

Witt was released from jail the morning after the crash since posting $27,000 security on her $245,000 bail.