
Man Passes Out in a Busy Missoula Intersection, Crashes Into Pole
Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On January 9, 2025, at approximately 8:52 AM, Missoula Police Department Officers were dispatched to a report of a male passed out in the intersection of South Third Street West and Russell Street. The complaint said the driver was passed out through several light cycles. Then she drove around him and called it in. She said he was in an older White Ford.
At 8:56 AM, a second caller reported that a white car ran into an electrical pole at Russell and S. 11th Street resulting in the airbags deploying. They reported the white car swerved off the road out of nowhere.
An officer responded and found a male digging around in the passenger seat. The male said he was driving, dropped his phone, and was looking for it. He identified himself as 41-year-old Walter Watne. He said he had a suspended license and no insurance. He also declined medical attention.
According to court documents, Watne’s driving history indicates that his license was revoked in November 2021 for being a Habitual Traffic Offender and it is still revoked. Watne’s driving record reflects 8 prior Driving While License Suspended or Revoked, two prior convictions for driving as a Habitual Traffic Offender (with another additional pending charge in Stillwater County), 10 prior lifetime no insurance convictions, a DUI in 2021, an aggravated DUI in 2013, and a DUI Per Se in 2011. Watne has numerous other traffic violations and is currently on Probation for Criminal Endangerment and Criminal Possession of Dangerous Drugs.
Watne was asked to perform standardized field sobriety tests. During the HGN test, his pupils were small and pinpoint, but he did not display any nystagmus. He showed 7 clues of impairment on the Walk and Turn test. He could not maintain balance, stopped walking multiple times, missed steps, raised his arms, stepped off the line, performed the incorrect number of steps, and completed an improper turn. He did not show any indicators on the One Leg Stand Test.
READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports
Then Watne agreed to a preliminary breath test which was less than the legal limit for alcohol. Then Watne was read Implied Consent and refused a blood draw. A warrant was obtained and his blood was taken at St. Patrick Hospital. Then he was transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility.
He is currently being charged with felony DUI, habitual traffic offender, and operating without liability insurance. His bond was set at $25,000.
The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.
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