Suspected drunk driver facing multiple felonies in Flathead County District Court
A man suspected of being behind a drunken hit-and-run last fall has pleaded not guilty to multiple felonies in Flathead County District Court.
William Matthew Evans, 42, of Kalispell appeared before Judge Danni Coffman on April 30 for his arraignment on felony counts of driving under the influence, fourth or subsequent offense, criminal endangerment and criminal mischief. Released on a $50,000 surety bond, he is expected in court on Aug. 3 for a pretrial conference.
Kalispell Police officers caught up with Evans in the parking lot of a hotel about 6:30 p.m., Oct. 8, according to court documents. A passerby saw him "struggling" and "out of it" inside a gold Cadillac and phoned the authorities.
The vehicle was linked to a hit-and-run earlier that same day, court documents said.
Officers described the Cadillac as running and emitting smoke and a high-pitched squeal as they arrived. Evans was seemingly asleep in the driver's seat, court documents said.
Rousing Evans by calling out his name, officers instructed him to shut off the engine and then helped him out of the Cadillac. Evans allegedly had the odor of alcohol on his breath and demonstrated severely impaired motor control. He needed help making basic movements and was unable to sit up without assistance, court documents said.
After officers removed two knives and a U.S. passport from Evans, he asked to go to jail, court documents alleged. Instead, emergency responders whisked Evans away to a medical center. A blood test taken at the hospital showed that Evans' blood alcohol content was 0.406, according to court documents. Investigators sent samples to the Montana State Crime Lab for additional testing.
Back at the hotel parking lot, officers found a shopping bag containing a 2-liter bottle of vodka, an alcoholic beverage and a 1-liter bottle of cranberry juice about 10 feet from the Cadillac. A search of the vehicle, undertaken as part of the investigation into the alleged hit-and-run, allegedly uncovered more alcoholic beverages.
Dash camera footage taken from the vehicle allegedly showed Evans, impaired and distracted by his phone, crash into a parked car occupied by a 74-year-old woman and then driving off.
Evans has three prior driving under the influence convictions in Montana and a fourth in south Carolina, according to court documents.
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.