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C.F. man charged with vehicular homicide

by Matt Hudson
| August 10, 2015 2:08 PM

Flathead County prosecutors have brought a vehicular homicide charge against a Columbia Falls man involved in a June 6 head-on crash that killed a Nebraska man.

Matthew Michael Hollo, 23, faces one count of vehicular homicide while under the influence, a felony.

On the afternoon of June 6, two vehicles collided head-on just north of Columbia Falls on the North Fork Road viaduct.

?One of the vehicles, a Toyota sport utility vehicle, was driven by 68-year-old Timothy Fangman. He was a cardiologist from Omaha who was reportedly headed north to a cabin near Polebridge.

Fangman died at the scene.

According to court documents, authorities spoke with Hollo, who received minor injuries after his Dodge pickup truck collided with Fangman’s Toyota.

He allegedly said at first that Fangman had drifted into his lane, which caused him to swerve. Investigators noted that this story didn’t match the evidence at the scene, according to the court documents.

Blood was drawn from Hollo and sent to the Montana State Crime Lab. It showed that Hollo’s blood-alcohol content on the day of the crash was 0.143, nearly twice the legal limit. Court documents say Hollo also was speeding.

Hollo could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted. He was booked in the Flathead County Detention Center on Aug. 8 and remains there on $100,000 bond.

Hollo is set to be arraigned in Flathead County District Court on Aug. 27.

Reporter Matt Hudson may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mhudson@dailyinterlake.com.