UPDATE - A Corvallis man was arrested over the weekend and charged with attempted deliberate homicide after allegedly running down a female pedestrian.

Ravalli County Sheriff Chris Hoffman said on Monday, September 16, that the suspect appeared to deliberately run down the victim with his panel van.

"Witnesses to the incident indicated that the driver swerved across both the northbound lanes to strike the woman, and then continued on," Hoffman said. "On September 13, a Ravalli County Sheriff's Department detective located the vehicle and the suspect, who has been identified as Jody Jake Pope, 47, of Corvallis. He was booked into the Ravalli County Detention Center and then seen by the judge on Monday afternoon. Pope was charged with attempted deliberate homicide, assault with a weapon, driving while suspended, and failure to have liability insurance."

Hoffman said the victim, 48, is in Marcus Daly Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Ravalli County Sheriff Chris Hoffman

Hoffman said that deputies were investigating the incident.

"Deputies from the Ravalli County Sheriff's Office and the Montana Highway Patrol began investigating a hit-and-run vehicle versus pedestrian, which occurred on Highway 93, just south of the city limits," Hoffman said. "The Stevensville woman, 48, was hit by what witnesses describe as a full-size panel van."

According to Hoffman, witnesses also said the incident appeared to be intentional.

"The vehicle appeared to veer into the woman, striking her, and then just moving on," Hoffman said. "At this point the matter is still under investigation."

Hoffman said the woman was taken to Hamilton's Marcus Daly Hospital. Her condition is not known. He said more information would be forthcoming.

Ravalli County Sheriff Chris Hoffman

 

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