The Deschutes County Courthouse in Bend. 

The man who allegedly killed a family of four in a fiery crash north of Redmond in October pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Deschutes County Circuit Court.

A trial is scheduled for January in the case of Jesse Carl Ross, of Montana, who is suspected of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol on U.S. Highway 97 on the night of Oct. 12.

Police reports at the time said Ross, 43, was driving north on the highway in a Chevrolet Silverado when he crossed the center line around 7:30 p.m. Ross side-swiped a Kenworth commercial truck and then hit a Toyota Rav4, which quickly caught fire, the Oregon State Police said in a news release at the time.

In the Toyota was the Rutledge family from Troutdale.

Gary Rutledge, 57, was driving, and Michelle Jean Windsor Rutledge, 53, Kate Rutledge, 15, and Ryan Rutledge, 17, were passengers. All four died at the scene, police said.

“All fatal traffic crashes are tragic. When an entire family is lost, the tragic becomes the horrific,” OSP Capt. Kyle Kennedy told The Bulletin at the time.

Ross was indicted two months later on four counts of first degree manslaughter, a DUII, recklessly endangering another person and reckless driving. He was booked in the Deschutes County jail the day after Christmas on a $2 million bond.

He appeared from the jail by video in court Tuesday.

Ross’ case is one of at least three recent fatal crashes being prosecuted in Deschutes County and involving a suspected DUII.

Bryce Tanner Lupton, 24, was the driver in a single-vehicle crash near 15th Street and Bear Creek Road in September that killed a 23-year-old passenger from La Pine. He was charged with first-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault and a DUII in February.

Kyle Lamont Cofer, 46, was charged with first-degree manslaughter, a DUII and reckless driving earlier this month after he crashed into a motorcyclist, 48-year-old {span}Chad Jeremy Bernhardt,{/span} near 27th Street and U.S. Highway 20 in Bend, killing him.