Fundraisers launched for victims of fatal vehicle wreck near Bigfork
Two fundraisers have been launched to support victims of a fatal Dec. 1 crash near Bigfork while prosecutors have filed felony charges against the suspected drunk driver accused of causing the wreck.
The head-on collision killed Wyatt Potts and seriously injured his fiancée Teressa Brandt and her 15-year-old daughter. The fundraisers, organized on GoFundMe, were created to support the affected families' medical and funeral expenses.
Prosecutors charged Dal Jensen Segall, 41, of Corvallis on Dec. 3 in Flathead County District Court with one felony count of vehicular homicide while under the influence and three felony counts of negligent vehicular assault.
Brandt was driving a Toyota Rav4 northbound on Montana 83 near Echo Lake Cafe with her daughter and Potts when a Ford F-150, driven by Segall, collided with them head on from the opposite lane, court documents said.
The Corvallis man had attempted to pass in a no-passing zone before colliding with the Rav4, according to court documents.
Potts, 33, died after being partially ejected from the vehicle. He was not wearing a seatbelt, according to Montana Highway Patrol troopers.
Brandt sustained severe brain injuries, and a description attached to the fundraiser indicated that she remains in a coma. Her daughter suffered a broken femur.
Authorities at the scene suspected Segall of driving drunk, according to court documents. The trooper who responded to the crash found Segall lying in the grass in front of the cafe, describing him as boasting watery, bloodshot eyes and smelling of alcohol.
Investigators later secured a warrant for a sample of his blood for testing.
Segall and a 30-year-old woman from Somers riding in the pickup were transported to Logan Health Medical Center. Segall allegedly became combative with emergency responders en route to the hospital.
Segall’s passenger suffered a broken and dislocated hip in the wreck, court documents said.
Segall later admitted to drinking alcohol prior to the crash, having driven from a Bigfork bar prior to the crash, court documents said. He remains in the county jail with bail set at $150,000.
According to the fundraiser launched by Brandt’s cousin, Ryan Kraus, she is a mother of three and recently began as a nail technician after working for Kalispell Auto Group at the Toyota Dealership in Kalispell.
“If anybody knows Teressa, knows that she is sweet, thoughtful and intelligent person. Her goofy side and smile is very contagious, makes her very fun to be around and have her as a friend and family member,” Kraus wrote.
Donations have amounted to over $23,000. The link is www.gofundme.com/f/support-teressa-and-ashtyn-after-tragic-accident.
Kalispell Toyota launched a fundraiser for Potts, who was an employee there for 12 years.
“His cheerful attitude, love for his peers and incredible humor will be missed by his Kalispell Toyota family. (And boy did he have the BEST [sense] of humor!),” read a Facebook post from the business.
That fundraiser has raised around $22,000 and the funds are being given to Potts’ mother to cover funeral expenses, medical expenses and remaining debts. The website can be found at www.gofundme.com/f/support-wyatt-potts-family-after-tragedy.
Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@dailyinterlake.com.