Missoula Parking Garage Hit-and-Run During Downtown Festival

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On August 22, 2026, at approximately 11:05 PM, Missoula Police Department Officers were made aware of a 911 caller reporting that her parked vehicle had been struck by another vehicle on the top floor of the parking garage at 128 W. Main St. Dispatch relayed to officers that the vehicle involved was a Toyota SUV.

Officers were aware of a large amount of foot traffic due to the River City Roots Festival in the downtown area. An officer who responded to the parking garage observed the vehicle and a group of people chasing after the vehicle and yelling at it to stop. The officer activated his emergency lights to stop the vehicle.

The driver continued to drive, and the officer called out on the radio to inform other officers that the suspect was fleeing. Other officers were in the immediate area and observed the suspect drive away. The officer was unable to chase after the vehicle due to the high volume of parked cars in the garage and the group of pedestrians in front of his patrol car.

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Witness Accounts of Assault

The driver of the vehicle was later identified as 29-year-old David Hunter. During this time, another officer was also in the parking garage and called for witnesses to come and speak with him. A female spoke with the officer, stating she had been assaulted by Hunter. The female stated she knows Hunter personally and she positively identified him as the driver of the SUV that struck the parked vehicle. The female told the officer that Hunter had been "a lot tonight" and said that he was intoxicated.

The female said that she chased after his car and was yelling at him to stop. The female stated that Hunter exited his vehicle and she went up to him to continue to plead with him not to drive. The female said Hunter told her something similar to, "stay out of my business," and then punched her in the stomach. Hunter then ran back to his vehicle and got inside.

While the on-scene interviews were being conducted, another officer walked to the bottom floor of the parking garage, where he heard tires squealing coming down the ramp from the second floor of the garage. The officer observed Hunter traveling in the SUV at a high rate of speed towards the exit on Ryman St. However, the vehicle did not exit, and instead turned the corner wildly to head towards the Main St. exit.

Arrest and Alcohol Involvement

Officers were alerted that another officer was now chasing after the SUV. That officer needed to drive at a much more reasonable speed due to the amount of pedestrians around. A short time later, the officer reported that the SUV was stopped near the intersection of Higgins & Main, and Hunter had fled on foot.

A short time later, Hunter was taken into custody. According to court documents, Hunter admitted to drinking alcohol and described himself as "hammered.” The officer noted Hunter also had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person and bloodshot, watery eyes. The officer decided to begin a DUI investigation.

The officer read Hunter the PAST Advisory, and Hunter consented to a PBT, which was almost three times the legal limit of a 0.08 BAC. Hunter was searched incident to arrest and placed into the officer’s patrol vehicle. The officer then read Hunter the Implied Consent Advisory, and Hunter refused a blood sample. The officer applied for a search warrant, which was approved, and Hunter was transported to a hospital, where a sample was taken. Then Hunter was remanded to jail.

READ MORE: Missoula News - Crime Reports

Hunter is currently being charged with felony aggravated fleeing from or eluding a peace officer, felony criminal endangerment, assault, and DUI first offense. His bond was set at $75,000.

The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.