Man pleads guilty to vehicular assault

A 25-year-old Columbia Falls man pleaded guilty to negligent vehicular assault following a plea agreement after he and two other men were seriously injured in a vehicle crash in 2011.

Kyle Lingle pleaded by way of an Alford plea on Jan. 17 in Flathead County District Court, meaning he didn’t admit his guilt but agreed that sufficient evidence existed to convict him. Lingle told the court he had no memory of the crash or several hours leading up to the crash.

According to court records, a Montana Highway Patrol trooper responding to a vehicle that crashed into a tree at Ninth Street and River Junction Road in Hungry Horse on Dec. 4, 2011, reported seeing several open containers for alcoholic beverages in the vehicle.

A passenger in the front seat had gone through the windshield and had several skull fractures. A passenger in the rear seat had chest injuries. Lingle, who had been driving, was extricated from the vehicle using Jaws Of Life equipment and transported along with the other two men to Kalispell Regional Medical Center for treatment.

The trooper read an “implied consent” request for a blood sample to Lingle while he was unconscious at KRMC. Lingle later was airlifted to Seattle for hip reconstruction and head injuries.

The blood sample revealed Lingle had THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, and alcohol in his blood. The trooper’s investigation determined Lingle was driving too fast for the weather conditions and had lost control.

Lingle was initially charged with felony counts of negligent vehicular assault and criminal endangerment and misdemeanor counts of DUI and open container. He faced up to 10 years and a $50,000 fine if convicted.

According to the Jan. 17 plea agreement, the county attorney agreed to recommend a 10-year suspended sentence if Lingle pleaded guilty to the negligent vehicular assault charge. Sentencing is scheduled for March 14.