Repeat DUI offender arrested after smashing snowman

A woman with four previous DUIs is once again accused of driving impaired, this time allegedly plowing through a ditch and smashing a snowman in front of multiple witnesses.

Christine Lois Simmons, 73, was booked into the Flathead County Detention Center on Christmas Eve, charged with felony DUI.

According to charging documents, on Dec. 23 law enforcement was advised of a possibly impaired driver on U.S. 2 in Kalispell. Multiple people called to report a dark Subaru Tribeca being driven by a woman with a pink hat that had gone through a ditch and hit a snowman before parking at a gas station.

Flathead County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded and saw a Subaru matching the description leaving the scene. A deputy attempted to pull over the vehicle, but the driver kept going, eventually pulling into a driveway and garage.

Deputies identified the driver as Simmons, who appeared intoxicated and smelled of alcohol, according to the report. Her eyes were glassy and she was unsteady on her feet.

Simmons reportedly admitted to consuming alcohol and possibly painkillers prior to driving.

A breath sample allegedly showed a BAC twice the legal limit. Simmons was arrested and taken to the hospital for a blood sample that was sent to the state crime lab.

According to the report, Simmons was convicted of DUIs in 2003, 2011, 2014 and 2019.

In the 2019 case, Simmons pleaded guilty to crashing into a parked car while drunk. She was so severely intoxicated she couldn’t perform a field sobriety test and was taken to the emergency room.

She was sentenced to 13 months in the Department of Corrections, followed by two years of probation.