C-Falls man faces fifth DUI charge after Zip-Trip crash

A Columbia Falls man appeared in court July 13 on his fourth and fifth DUI charges after he allegedly crossed U.S. 93 in June and drove his vehicle through the wall of a Zip Trip store in Kalispell while intoxicated.

Christopher Wayne Losee, 52, pleaded not guilty to two felony DUI charges and one charge of felony criminal mischief before Flathead District Court Judge Dan Wilson.

According to court documents, Losee was charged with the first count of DUI in January 2017 after he was stopped by law enforcement and was found to have a blood alcohol level of almost .33.

Six months later, court records state that Kalispell Police officers responded to the Zip Trip off U.S. 93 in Kalispell following a report of a single vehicle crash. Upon arrival, officers found a green Ford Explorer windshield-deep inside the store and the vehicle’s alleged driver, identified as Losee, still inside.

According to Kalispell Police Sgt. Chad Zimmerman, no injuries resulted from the collision. However, had any employees been in the small office on the other side of the wall, Zimmerman said, it would have been a different story.

Losee allegedly crossed the highway and drove through the cinder-block wall, damaging freezers and equipment and pushing a cooler through the opposite wall and into the main storefront.

Court documents state that Losee allegedly showed signs of intoxication but was awake when he was pulled from the car and transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center for a medical evaluation.

There he allegedly admitted to having consumed alcohol prior to driving the vehicle.

Upon further investigation, an open alcoholic beverage was allegedly found inside the crashed vehicle.

In Montana, the first three DUI convictions reflect as misdemeanors with all subsequent DUI convictions reflecting as felonies.

The damage to the Zip Trip totaled over $1,500 and caused the store to close for several days.

Losee is scheduled to stand trial in November. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison for the combined counts and could be liable for any restitution payable to the business for damages incurred.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.