Whitefish man charged with DUI after crash

A Whitefish man with a prior history of driving under the influence of alcohol has been arrested following involvement in a two-vehicle crash.

Matt Carl Wolf, 48, is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to court documents filed July 21 in Flathead District Court.

According to court documents, Montana Highway Patrol was dispatched to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Montana 40 and Whitefish Stage Road where two pickup trucks had collided on July 20.

A trooper spoke to a witness who said he allegedly restrained one of the drivers involved in the crash — a man later identified as Wolf — when Wolf reportedly tried to flee the scene after the accident. The witness allegedly said Wolf was acting strange and believed he was intoxicated.

The other driver involved in the crash also reportedly described Wolf as acting strangely and told the trooper that Wolf’s vehicle T-boned his pickup as he was driving through the intersection.

The trooper then spoke to Wolf, reporting that he smelled like alcohol and noting Wolf’s slurred speech and blood-shot eyes. Wolf allegedly denied drinking alcohol initially, but later reportedly admitted he drank “a couple of beers,” according to court documents. Wolf allegedly showed signs of intoxication during a field sobriety test. The trooper requested a breath sample, in which Wolf reportedly blew .337. The legal limit in Montana is .08 blood alcohol concentration. Wolf was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence.

Wolf was transported to the hospital for a blood draw, which was sent to the Montana State Crime Lab for testing.

The trooper checked Wolf’s driving history, which showed three prior DUI or DUI per se convictions in 1993, 1997 and 2013.

Arraignment is set for Aug. 17.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.