Two face charges in crashes

A woman was arrested during the weekend in connection with one fatal car accident, and a warrant was issued Monday for a man for another accident.

Carol Jones, 28, of Kalispell was charged with negligent homicide and criminal endangerment for a crash in June on Foy's Lake Road. It killed Lesha Rider, 27, of Kalispell, who is Jones' cousin, according to Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan.

A warrant for negligent homicide was issued for Jason Deshazer, 22, of Kalispell, who was to be released Monday from Kalispell Regional Medical Center. He is accused of causing the crash Oct. 26 that killed 27-year-old Dawn Bowker.

Alcohol was said to be a factor in both fatal crashes.

Corrigan said toxicology test results released last week by the state crime lab show that Jones' blood-alcohol level was greater than .20 percent, more than twice the legal limit.

Rider was a passenger in the Pontiac Firebird driven by Jones. According to Montana Highway Patrol reports, the Firebird drifted to the right side of Foy's Lake Road, and Jones tried to straighten the vehicle and overcorrected. The vehicle rolled into a ditch, landing on its roof and pinning Rider inside.

Rider died at the scene, according to sheriff's Lt. Dave Leib, the deputy county coroner. Others in the crash were hurt.

Officials are awaiting lab results from Deshazer, who is suspected of being intoxicated when his vehicle crossed the center line of Montana 82, striking Bowker's vehicle head-on. She died at the scene. She was wearing a seat belt; Deshazer was not.

Corrigan said there are a half-dozen or more cases pending against drivers who caused fatal car accidents.