Habitual Traffic Offender Flees Crash in Missoula, Charged With DUI

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On October 20, 2023, shortly after 11:00 a.m., Missoula Police Department Officers were dispatched to a crash that had occurred at the intersection of South Ave and Reserve Street.  

Dispatch advised the officers that one of the involved vehicles was described as a blue Dodge 1500, which had left the scene. A short time later, a second caller had called in to report that the blue Dodge had turned into the Brooks Street Motor Inn and a male had taken off on foot. 

An officer ran a registration query on the provided license plate and found the registered owner to be 31-year-old Tayler Andersen. The officer learned that Andersen’s driver’s license was revoked and he was listed as a habitual traffic offender.  

Upon his arrival at the Brooks Street Motor Inn, the officer observed a blue Dodge pickup parked and then noticed a male standing near it. The officer approached the male, who identified himself as Andersen. 

Andersen confirmed he was the registered owner of the Dodge and admitted to driving. In speaking with Andersen, the officer smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from him. The officer asked Andersen how much he had to drink, to which Andersen stated he last drank the previous night around 2:00 a.m. Shortly after, another officer arrived to conduct a DUI investigation. 

The officer conducted Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and observed 14/18 indicators of impairment. Andersen was then placed under arrest. He was read the Implied Consent Advisory and consented to providing a breath sample at the Missoula County Detention Facility. Andersen provided a breath sample of .114 BAC. 

According to court documents, Andersen has three prior DUI convictions, five no-insurance convictions, and five driving while suspended or revoked convictions. Andersen is currently being charged with felony DUI, habitual traffic offender, operating without liability insurance in effect, and failure to give notice by quickest means of an accident. 

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