Minnesota man charged in fatal July 4 crash
A Minnesota man has been charged in the deaths of two Kalispell women who died in a July 4 traffic crash on Montana 35.
According to Flathead County Attorney Travis Ahner, 23-year-old Mason David Drake was charged Monday, Oct. 7, with two felony counts of vehicular homicide while under the influence.
Drake is not in custody and a warrant for his arrest was issued Monday. His bail has been set at $500,000.
Alice Teresa Barten, 59, and her daughter, Katie McKenna Dennee Barten, 31, died in the crash that occurred near Fairmont Road.
Drake is facing a maximum of 30 years in the Montana State Prison on each count and a $50,000 fine.
According to the criminal complaint, law enforcement officials got a warrant for Drake’s blood, and testing at the Montana State Crime Lab indicated Drake’s blood alcohol content was 0.136. The legal limit is 0.08.
Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Brian Thorne responded to the scene of a head-on crash at 11:54 p.m., Thursday, July 4, on Montana 35 east of Evergreen near Hooper’s Garden Center.
Trooper Thorne learned a red 2017 Chevy pickup had collided with a smaller Ford pickup a few minutes before he arrived.
Trooper John Underwood also responded and spoke with two witnesses at the scene, who said they were driving and had seen the red Chevy pickup swerving.
The witnesses said they had to swerve to avoid being hit by the red truck. One of the witnesses then turned and saw the Chevy truck cross the centerline and hit another vehicle.
When Thorne investigated, he found both occupants, the Bartens, of the smaller vehicle dead inside.
The driver of the red pickup, Drake, was removed from the driver’s side of the vehicle.
First responders indicated an overwhelming odor of alcohol from Drake, who was taken to Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
According to a Jan. 2, 2017, account in the Fillmore County Journal based in Preston, Minnesota, Drake was charged with driving 70 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone on Nov. 1, 2016. He was fined $60 and total fees were $150.
Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.