Missoula Man Denies Charges in Fatal Crash

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — A 21-year-old Missoula man has pleaded not guilty to charges filed after a crash in the south hills of Missoula last month that killed two of his passengers and seriously injured a third.

Justin Barber is charged with two counts of vehicular homicide while under the influence and one count of vehicular assault for a crash at 3 a.m. on March 4. KECI-TV reported he pleaded not guilty Wednesday.

Prosecutors allege Barber was drunk and speeding when the car went off the road and rolled down an embankment, killing 20-year-old Jason McDonald of Frenchtown. Eighteen-year-old Joshua Gruebele of Missoula died of his injuries the next day while 21-year-old Nicholas Von Platz was treated for his injuries at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Barber remained jailed with bail set at $500,000.