Fleeing Driver Crashes Through Fences, Hits House in Montana

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On January 17, 2026, at approximately 6:05 AM, Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were dispatched to a report of a white pickup that had driven through several fences and ultimately struck a house in the 8700 block of Bogar Lane in Clinton, MT. A deputy observed a family standing outside the home that had been damaged.  

At this time, another deputy informed other deputies via radio that a white Toyota Tacoma attempted to crash into his patrol vehicle head-on. The Toyota was traveling in the wrong lane of traffic, which caused the deputy to take evasive action by driving into the ditch off the roadway. The deputy turned his patrol vehicle around and attempted to initiate a traffic stop.  

The Toyota began to flee from the deputy at speeds of 80 mph in a 50 mph zone. The driver, later determined to be 56-year-old Charles Levine, stopped his vehicle in a wide patch of roadway on East Mullan. The deputy stopped his patrol vehicle, exited, and gave Levine commands to exit his vehicle. Levine placed the Toyota in reverse and began driving toward the patrol car. 

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Levine’s vehicle struck the patrol vehicle directly in the front/engine compartment. The force of the collision caused the patrol vehicle to move backwards, causing the driver’s side door to strike the deputy. The deputy almost fell to the ground due to the force of the collision. Fearing for his life, the deputy fired two rounds at Levine’s vehicle, striking the rear passenger door and the rear passenger window.  

Levine then left the area, traveling east on East Mullan. Another deputy retrieved his department-issued stop sticks and positioned them on Mullan Rd. The deputy observed a vehicle approaching at a high rate of speed that drove over the spike strips. The deputy could hear air escaping the tires, signifying a successful stop stick deployment.  

A short time later, the vehicle was located on the railroad tracks. After confirming there were no occupants in the vehicle, deputies informed BNSF that the tracks were blocked and called to have the vehicle towed off the tracks. 

READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports 

Around mile marker 118.5, a deputy observed what appeared to be a male lying on the center dashed line of the roadway. The deputy was able to take evasive action to avoid hitting the male. The deputy pulled over to the shoulder and placed his patrol vehicle in reverse to assess the scene. Then the deputy observed that the male was now walking towards him. The male was taken into custody and was identified as Levine. 

Levine was arrested and eventually transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. He is currently being charged with felony criminal endangerment, felony assault on a peace officer, felony criminal mischief, and fleeing from a peace officer. His bond was set at $50,000. 

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