Alleged drunken driver crashes into Highway Patrol trooper near Darby
Monday, February 1st, 2010This from Missoulian Reporter Betsy Cohen:
An alleged drunken driver is in jail after crashing into a Montana Highway Patrol trooper as she was parked on the shoulder of U.S. Highway 93 near Darby.
Trooper Tamra Winchell was sitting in her patrol car about 9 p.m. Saturday when a white 1996 Ford Ranger pickup, traveling north at a high rate of speed, struck the rear of the car.
The pickup truck continued off the left side of the highway and hit a power pole, and its driver – who witnesses described as “very intoxicated,” fled the scene on foot, said Capt. Tom Hamilton, district commander of the Highway Patrol.
Winchell was taken to Marcus Daly Hospital in Hamilton, where she was treated and later released.
At 10:46 p.m., Ravalli County sheriff’s deputies located and arrested the driver of the Ford Ranger, 41-year-old Geoffrey D. Klare of Hamilton. He also was taken to the hospital for minor injuries suffered in the crash.
Later, Klare was taken to the Ravalli County jail, where Hamilton said he was booked on one count of negligent vehicular assault and two counts of criminal endangerment.
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