Trucker denies huffing prior to crash

A Bigfork man has denied charges that he had inhaled air canisters before crashing a 68,000-pound concrete truck.

Mark Allen Doble, 29, pleaded not guilty to felony criminal endangerment Thursday in Flathead County District Court.

Doble allegedly crashed a concrete truck on Old Reserve Drive in September 2014. It was a serious crash and Doble was thrown through the windshield, according to court documents.

The responding Montana Highway Patrol Trooper feared that Doble was dead upon arrival.

While Doble was in the Kalispell Regional Medical Center in critical condition, he consented to a blood test. The test revealed 1,1-Difluoroethane, a refrigerant commonly used in compressed-air canisters.

The canisters are known to be abused by people who inhale the contents for intoxication.

Police found multiple cans of a common air duster in the truck.

Doble was granted conditional release following the hearing. He could face 10 years in prison if convicted.

His next court date is set for Aug. 26.

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