Man accused of hitting woman with pickup at bar

A Kalispell man is in jail after he allegedly rammed into a woman with his pickup truck following an altercation at an Evergreen bar Saturday night.

Brandon Mark Woodward, 32, of Kalispell, is facing one felony count of negligent vehicular assault.

Court documents state that Woodward told police he and the woman were involved in an altercation that night at the Rainbow Bar. He told police that when he tried to leave the parking lot, he thought the truck was in reverse and accidentally accelerated forward, hitting the woman.

Police said several witnesses, including Woodward’s girlfriend, stated that it appeared Woodward intentionally hit the woman with his truck.

After Woodward was arrested and taken to the county jail, police said he admitted to drinking alcohol while floating the river earlier in the day. Officers said Woodward showed signs of being intoxicated during standard field sobriety tests. He also reportedly refused to provide a breath sample.

According to the complaint, in light of Woodward’s three prior DUI convictions, a deputy applied for and received a search warrant to take a blood sample, which was sent to the Montana State Crime Lab.

A Sheriff’s Office detective later contacted the woman who had been hit by the truck. She reported she was still in the hospital and had suffered a bruised pancreas during the incident.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.