Man gets 25 years for hitting cyclist

A Lincoln County man was sentenced May 15 to 25 years in prison for intentionally running over a Kalispell cyclist in his car in May 2016 in order to rob him.

Brian Norvell, 29, was convicted of both the initial charge of aggravated assault and a later charge of assault on a peace officer before the Lincoln County District Court.

According to court records, Norvell’s victim, 22-year-old Luca Johnson, was riding his bike south of Eureka on Montana 37 when Norvell struck him with his vehicle at a speed of 50-60 mph.

After running Johnson over, records state that Norvell got out, went through Johnson’s backpack and stole his wallet. Norvell then attempted to hide his car in the woods, but later returned to the scene, handing the wallet over to authorities and admitting to the crime.

Johnson had to be airlifted from the scene and spent four days in the hospital. The collision fractured Johnson’s skull in two places, broke his ankle, a toe and multiple bones in his foot and sent him flying across the pavement, covering him in road rash.

Several days after being taken into custody, officers were attempting to administer medication to Norvell in prison when Norvell attacked a guard, hitting him in the mouth and resulting in the assault on a peace officer charge.

A year after the incident, Johnson said he is still recovering from serious brain trauma and potentially has multiple hand and leg surgeries ahead of him. Johnson works at the Kalispell Sportsman and Ski Haus repairing and working on bikes.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.