Whitefish man accused of vehicular assault pleads not guilty

A Whitefish man accused of striking two pedestrians with his car in downtown Whitefish last month pleaded not guilty to two counts of negligent vehicle assault Thursday in Flathead District Court.

James Bowling French Jr., 56, is facing two felony counts. He faces 10 years in state prison for each count.

Court documents indicate French was legally drunk, according to a breath test taken by police.

French was released from the county jail after posting bond July 19.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Whitefish Police officers were called to Baker Avenue the evening of July 14 for a report of an accident involving a 2012 Mustang GT. The car was found at a 45-degree angle up against a guardrail.

Police found one of the victims, a man from Marietta, Georgia, impaled on a tree branch. His wife was found on the ground, about 20 feet below the street in a ditch. Both suffered severe injuries.

When officers spoke with French, he allegedly admitted he was driving and said he had consumed alcohol earlier in the day. According to the police report, French’s eyes were bloodshot and glassy, and he smelled of alcohol.

After being transported to the police department, French again allegedly admitted he had drank alcohol before driving into Whitefish for dinner. He said he lost control of his vehicle and saw the two pedestrians shortly before hitting them.

French then completed several standard field sobriety tests, which showed indications of impairment, according to court documents. He was then taken to North Valley Hospital where a blood sample was taken. French also gave a breath sample which allegedly resulted in a blood alcohol level of 0.098. The legal limit in Montana is 0.08.

According to the affidavit, officers spoke with several witnesses who said they saw French’s vehicle speed toward and hit both pedestrians, sending both airborne.