Hospital workers testify about driver's behavior

The Kalispell woman accused of killing a 24-year-old Bigfork man in a drunk-driving accident appeared to be intoxicated when she arrived at the hospital after the accident.

That was the testimony given Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning by several witnesses for the prosecution in Steffanie Ann Schauf's trial.

When cross-examined, the witnesses agreed that some of the symptoms Schauf exhibited that night could be indicative of head trauma.

Schauf, 27, pleaded not guilty in May 2007 to amended charges of vehicular homicide while under the influence of alcohol, negligent vehicular assault and criminal endangerment, all felonies.

She originally was charged with one count of vehicular homicide while under the influence of alcohol and two counts of negligent vehicular assault.

According to the Montana Highway Patrol, Schauf was driving southbound on U.S. 93 in her Mazda Miata at about 1:30 a.m. July 1, 2006. As she neared the Happy Valley area, her car plowed into the back of a pickup truck driven by Christopher Gray, 28, of Bigfork.

The impact sent the truck rolling down an embankment, ejecting passenger Brett Adams, 24, of Kalispell. Adams was taken to Kalispell Regional Medical Center, where he later died from severe brain injuries.

Gray was taken in serious condition to Kalispell Regional Medical Center with broken bones and a punctured lung. A second passenger, Savannah Hill, who sat between Adams and Gray in the pickup, was treated for minor injuries and released.

Schauf's Miata went into the ditch, where it caught fire. Two passing motorists pulled her from the vehicle.

Montana Highway Patrolman Martin Schrock, who responded to the accident, said Tuesday that Schauf "appeared to be highly intoxicated" when he met her at the scene.

Schrock testified that he could smell alcohol on Schauf's breath. She was unsteady on her feet and was physically and verbally combative - observations confirmed on Schrock's in-car video, which was running as he arrived at the scene.

Jurors watched the video Tuesday afternoon. It showed a hysterical, uncooperative Schauf, who yelled profanities at Schrock and tried to kick out the doors of the trooper's patrol car.

When Schrock told her she was under arrest for negligent vehicular assault, Schauf asked him twice to repeat the charge and denied assaulting anyone. She repeatedly called for help and pleaded with Schrock to let her go home.

In court, Schauf dabbed her eyes with a tissue while watching the video.

Schrock said he took Schauf to Kalispell Regional Medical Center at about 3 a.m. July 1 and then went home to get some sleep. He booked Schauf at Flathead County Detention Center later that morning.

At that time, Schrock said, Schauf's demeanor was much more subdued and "a lot more pleasant to be around." She was "not as profane" and was asking questions about the accident.

Amy Vanterpool, who, at the time was the chief flight nurse at Kalispell Regional and was on call that day, said Schauf grew less combative as the morning went on. She, Scott Seager (then a flight paramedic with Kalispell Regional) and nurse Peggy Perkins all stated that Schauf appeared to be intoxicated when she was at the hospital.

Perkins checked Schauf's vital signs when she was first admitted. Schauf said she wasn't hurt, Perkins said, and her vital signs were normal.

Schauf was retching into a bucket and spitting on the floor, she said. She also was staggering, slurring her speech, making threats and her "language certainly was inappropriate."

Perkins said she believed Schauf was intoxicated, but because she has no sense of smell, she could not tell if Schauf had alcohol on her breath.

Defense attorney Darin Westover asked Perkins if the symptoms Schauf displayed - including slurred speech, combativeness and vomiting - could be signs of a head injury instead of intoxication. Perkins agreed they could indicate a head injury, but said projectile vomiting is more common.

Vanterpool drew blood for a trauma panel from Schauf while setting up an intravenous line. Running lab tests is common practice when a patient has been in a serious accident, she explained. The lab work includes a test that checks a patient's blood-alcohol level.

Vanterpool said she also tried to get a urine sample from Schauf, who refused to give one. A urinalysis would have checked for blood in the urine, indicating possible damage to the kidneys, and checked for drugs in her system.

Seager was present when Vanterpool drew blood from Schauf. She handed him the syringe so he could put the blood into tubes for the lab tests while she finished setting up an intravenous line. Vanterpool said she had asked Seager to assist her because she had heard Schauf had been combative earlier.

Seager labeled the tubes once he'd filled them and signed a sheet of paper that said he'd drawn the blood, even though Vanterpool technically had done it. He then left the room with the tubes.

He said he could not recall exactly what he did with them when he left the room but was certain he'd either taken them to the lab or to the nurses' station, both of which are appropriate according to hospital policy.

Westover questioned Seager and Vanterpool about proper blood work protocol. Seager admitted that signing the sheet that said he'd drawn the blood did not follow hospital policy, but said he considered signing the document a statement that he was certain they had taken blood from the correct patient.

Westover also asked whether the emergency room's busy situation might have paved the way for possible mistakes. Both Seager and Vanterpool were on call the night of the accident; they were called in the middle of the night to help with several traumas.

Both witnesses said there were levels of procedure in place to prevent mistakes during busy times. Vanterpool emphasized that emergency personnel are trained to make important decisions during chaotic moments.

She, Seager and Perkins all said the busy emergency room did not affect hospital staff's ability to treat patients that night.

Schauf's trial, which began Monday, continues today. It is expected to last eight days.

If convicted on all counts, Schauf faces up to 50 years in prison and a $110,000 fine.

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com