Suspected drunk driver crashed with young child in vehicle, court docs say

A Kalispell man accused of drunkenly crashing his vehicle while driving with his daughter in early April is facing a felony criminal child endangerment charge in Flathead County District Court.  

Montana Highway Patrol troopers headed to the wreck at the intersection of U.S. 2 and Montana 35 about 10 p.m., April 5 after responding firefighters described the motorist as stumbling around, according to court documents. There they found 34-year-old Tony Roy Shewalter, who they described as "highly intoxicated and slurring his words heavily," court documents said.  

He has since pleaded not guilty to the felony before Judge Amy Eddy. A pretrial conference is scheduled for Sept. 22. 

Speaking with the troopers at the scene, Shewalter recounted turning from U.S. 2 onto Montana 35 when he ran off the road and struck a heavy steel lamp pole. He told troopers that his young daughter was riding with him when he crashed.  

He said the pair was coming from a friend's house. Shewalter initially said he had nothing to drink, but when asked allegedly said he consumed three beers.  

Shewalter quickly amended that to seltzers, according to court documents.  

Asked to perform field sobriety tests, Shewalter begged them off owing to injuries sustained in the crash, court documents alleged. He instead underwent a horizontal gaze nystagmus test, which allegedly indicated intoxication. 

While Shewalter refused a breath test, he agreed to give authorities a blood sample, which was sent to the Montana State Crime Lab.  

Criminal child endangerment is punishable by up to 10 years behind bars and a $50,000 fine. 

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 406-758-4430 or dperkins@dailyinterlake.com. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.