Driver accused of trying to drown passengers

A Kalispell man with several DUI convictions is accused of driving his truck into Smith Lake in what authorities allege was an effort to drown himself and two others in the vehicle.

Andrew Joseph Burrows, 48, was charged with one felony count of criminal endangerment after the April 29 incident.

According to the charging document, at about 11:14 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, Burrows drove his pickup truck into Smith Lake while another man and a woman were inside the vehicle.

A third man broke out the rear passenger window and both passengers escaped.

In another court document, the arresting officer, a Flathead County Sheriff’s Office deputy, filed additional details of the incident. Burrows was hanging out and drinking alcohol with the aforementioned people. He allegedly spoke with them about his ex-wife who was murdered, the document states. One of the men said Burrows appeared depressed about the situation. The woman said Burrows noted she looked like his dead ex-wife.

Later, Burrows agreed to give the three acquaintances a ride to their camp, court documents stated. But instead he drove to the area of Smith Lake Road. One of the men got out of the truck at Smith Lake and then Burrows allegedly told the woman “that tonight was a good night to die.”

Burrows then allegedly drove his truck into the lake. Water began filling the cab and the two remaining passengers began to scream and tried to get out. The woman said she heard a “click” which she believed was Burrows locking the doors. She then climbed into the back of the truck and the other man worked with the third man who had got out earlier to smash a window to get out. They had to pull Burrows out, who they said wasn’t willing to come out voluntarily.

The woman said once they were all out of the truck, Burrows hugged her and called her a different name, which worried her about his intentions. One of the men was upset and wanted to harm Burrows because he thought Burrows was trying to kill them, but the woman told him to leave the accused alone, according to the court document.

Officers showed up, but didn’t find Burrows until the next day. Burrows allegedly told officers he hid from them because he was on probation, had relapsed into drinking and didn’t want to get in trouble.

Court documents indicate Burrows had previous DUI convictions in 1993, 1997, 1998 and 2001. He also had charges of DUI filed four other times.

Burrows is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges at 9 a.m. Friday, May 15, in front of Flathead District Judge Robert Allison.

He is lodged in the Flathead County Detention Center on $20,000 bail. Burrows faces a maximum of 10 years in the Montana State Prison.

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