Man who rolled car pleads guilty to drunk driving

A 24-year-old Kalispell man pleaded guilty Oct. 25 in Flathead District Court to felony criminal endangerment and misdemeanor drunk driving.

Brandon Hutson had a blood alcohol level of nearly 2 1/2 times the legal limit when he rolled his vehicle at the courthouse loop on South Main Street on July 28.

Witnesses said Hutson and another motorist had been racing, with Hutson traveling roughly 40 miles an hour when he pulled in front of another vehicle, lost control as he entered the courthouse curve, struck a concrete barrier and rolled his vehicle onto its roof.

When police arrived at the scene, three passengers were not seriously injured, while a fourth passenger was on the ground near the vehicle, “crying and in obvious pain” according to the court document. In court, it was added that passenger had suffered a broken rib and cracked vertebra.

An officer who responded to the scene said Hutson had been drinking and admitted having had three to four beers before the accident.

The officer reported Hutson was unsteady on his feet, had slurred speech and failed a field sobriety test before refusing a breath alcohol test.

Hutson’s sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 6.