Heavener man to face trial for negligent homicide in death of rodeo

POTEAU, Okla. (AP) -- A Heavener man will be tried for negligent homicide for his involvement in a 1999 accident that killed<br>nationally known rodeo announcer Phil Gardenhire.<br><br>A judge ordered

Friday, June 16th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

POTEAU, Okla. (AP) -- A Heavener man will be tried for negligent homicide for his involvement in a 1999 accident that killed
nationally known rodeo announcer Phil Gardenhire.

A judge ordered a trial for Marty Ellis, 28, after studying additional information submitted after Ellis' March 28 preliminary hearing. A trial date will be set later.

Ellis is charged with negligent homicide and possession of methamphetamine and marijuana in connection with the April 14,
1999, crash that killed Gardenhire.

After the accident, Ellis said failing brakes caused him to broadside Gardenhire's truck, authorities said.

But a drug test Ellis took about four hours later indicated the presence of drugs in his system, according to documents from LeFlore County District Court.

Gardenhire, of Heavener, was known for announcing from horseback and had worked several National Finals Rodeos.