Reconstruction of Barkus boat crash finished

Prosecutors in the case against a state senator accused of piloting a boat drunk on Flathead Lake and crashing it onto a rocky outcropping, injuring five people, say they have completed their reconstruction of the accident.

State Sen. Greg Barkus, a 63-year-old Kalispell Republican, is charged with one count of criminal endangerment and two counts of negligent vehicular assault for an Aug. 27, 2009, crash that injured him and his four passengers.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Prosecutors say Barkus’ blood alcohol content was 0.16 percent — twice the legal limit for driving — nearly two hours after the accident.

Defense attorneys are expected to conduct their own crash reconstruction by Oct. 8, unless they choose to accept the prosecution’s expert testimony.

The reconstruction is not part of the public court record in the case.

Barkus’ trial is set for Nov. 29.

The trial originally was planned in April, but both the prosecution and defense asked for delays so accident-reconstruction work could be done.

The crash injured not only Barkus but also his wife, Kathy; U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg; and Kristin Smith and Dustin Frost, who were Rehberg staffers at the time.