Suspect in Deaths of Wildife Researchers Pleads Not Guilty

LAKE ANDES, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota man accused of driving drunk and killing two federal wildlife researchers has pleaded not guilty to vehicular homicide charges.

Twenty-nine-year-old Ronald Fischer Jr., of Lake Andes, was allegedly driving drunk on July 8 in the Pickstown area when he failed to stop at a stop sign. Authorities say his vehicle went into a parking lot, where it struck and killed 25-year-old Maegan Spindler, of Cazenovia, N.Y., and 46-year-old Robert Klumb, of Pierre.

The two U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service employees were in the area conducting tests on the Missouri River.

The Daily Republic newspaper reports that the judge in the case rejected a defense request for a reduction in Fischer's $250,000 bond.

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