Washington deputy denies driving drunk through crash
A Washington state sheriff’s deputy accused of drunk driving through a fatal accident scene on Thanksgiving night denied his charges in court Thursday.
Brandon Michael Hoover, 29, pleaded not guilty to a felony criminal endangerment charge and aggravated driving under the influence before Judge Amy Eddy at the Flathead District Court.
Hoover, a deputy with the Stevens County Sheriff’s Department based in Colville, has been put on administrative leave as a result of the charges, Stevens County Sheriff Kendle Allen told the Inter Lake.
According to the incident report, Hoover admitted to local law enforcement that he had been drinking, and said he was looking down at his phone when he drove through the accident scene.
The Montana State Highway patrol trooper who took Hoover into custody reported he was at the scene where a 26-year-old woman had been killed in a crash, when he heard yelling and saw Creston volunteer firefighters running toward a traffic sign that had been set up for the crash investigation.
At this time, Hoover allegedly ran his red Dodge pickup through the accident scene, struck a vehicle and continued driving.
The highway patrol trooper stated he didn’t know whether Hoover had struck a vehicle or a firefighter directing traffic when he began a pursuit.
The trooper clocked the pickup traveling at speeds more than 100 mph as he attempted to evade law enforcement, according to the police report.
During the pursuit, Hoover allegedly drove his vehicle off the road and into a field, taking out a fence, before returning to the road.
Hoover eventually stopped his vehicle and exited with his hands in the air, the trooper stated. He was transported to Flathead County Detention Center where he took a sobriety test.
Hoover reportedly demonstrated indicators of impairment during one of the tests, and his breath sample allegedly came back at 0.178 – about twice the legal driving limit in Montana.
If the sheriff’s deputy is charged with felony criminal endangerment, he could face up to 10 years prison and a $50,000 fine.
A jury trial date is set for Monday, Feb. 26.
Reporter Breeana Laughlin can be reached at 758-4441 or blaughlin@dailyinterlake.com.