Man denies Whitefish crash

A man has denied driving drunk and taking out a street sign, trees, and another vehicle in downtown Whitefish on Feb. 28.

Caleb Edward Thomas Rodger, 23, pleaded not guilty to felony criminal endangerment and misdemeanor failure to provide notification of an accident and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

According to court documents, an apparently intoxicated Rodger was found by a Whitefish Police in a vehicle that was seen leaving the scene of a crash. Rodger allegedly provided a breath sample that was .115. The legal limit is .08.

A witness told the officer he heard a crash and saw where Rodger’s vehicle had allegedly run over a street sign and trees and hit another vehicle. The witness then reported that he saw Rodger’s vehicle attempt to take off and possibly flee, but instead the vehicle broke down.

The officer determined that a tree had been completely sheared off at its base in the crash and a sidewalk bike rack, “no parking sign” and Subaru Forester had also been damaged.

A jury trial has been tentatively set for Aug. 8.