Driver who injured passenger has to pay restitution

A Kalispell man has been given a five-year suspended sentence after crashing into another vehicle in 2011.

After been convicted of felony criminal endangerment, Christopher Thiem, 21, also was ordered by District Judge Robert Allison to complete 100 hours of community service and pay restitution.

According to a court document, Thiem must pay $100 in restitution per month for the first six months, $150 for the following six months, then $200 for six months,  $250 for six months and finally $300 for the remainder of the sentence.

Thiem claimed at the time of the accident that he had fallen asleep, but his blood allegedly showed tetrahydrocannabinol — the psychoactive compound in marijuana — in his system, and he originally was charged with felony counts of criminal endangerment and negligent vehicular assault as well as misdemeanor driving under the influence.

A passenger in Thiem’s vehicle was taken to Kalispell Regional Medical Center before being flown to Seattle for treatment of severe head injuries as well as hip reconstruction.  

Thiem must provide restitution for that victim’s medical bills.

He eventually pleaded guilty to the endangerment charge while the other two were dismissed.