Missoula Deputies Used PIT Maneuver to Stop Wrong-way Driver on I-90

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On July 9, 2026, shortly before 3:30 AM, Mineral County 911 received multiple calls regarding a wrong-way driver traveling on Interstate 90. The calls indicated that the suspect vehicle was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of I-90. The Mineral County Sheriff's Office did not have any deputies available, so the Missoula County Sheriff's Office provided aid. The driver, later identified as 60-year-old Dirk Hinkle, was ultimately stopped within the boundary of Missoula County after his vehicle was pinned by deputies.  

Multiple officers responded to the Huson area. A deputy was the lead patrol vehicle. As the deputy approached the 80 mile marker, he received an update that the vehicle was last located near the 69 mile marker. As the deputy approached the 77 mile marker, he observed headlights approaching him head-on in the westbound lane. The deputy yielded to the right side of the roadway with his emergency lights and sirens activated to stop the oncoming vehicle. The oncoming vehicle passed the deputy at approximately 70 mph.  

The deputy turned his patrol vehicle around and initiated a pursuit. The deputy then sped up and was traveling parallel with the vehicle. During this time, the deputy did not observe traffic traveling westbound. However, he knew there were civilian vehicles approaching as he had passed those vehicles when traveling westbound to find the suspect vehicle. The deputy knew these oncoming vehicles were in imminent danger.  

A Sergeant was following shortly behind the deputy with his emergency lights and siren activated. As the suspect vehicle approached, the Sergeant began slowing down and moving into the suspect's lane of travel. The suspect vehicle then crossed the fog line to go around the Sergeant, who attempted to ram the back corner of the vehicle. The Sergeant was unsuccessful and missed.  

At this time, the deputy observed an approaching civilian vehicle traveling toward the suspect vehicle. The deputy elected to remove the suspect vehicle from the roadway. The deputies struck the suspect vehicle's left rear bumper, causing it to spin and stall on the roadway, effectively ending its wrong-way travel. The Sergeant also made contact with the vehicle's rear, pinning it in place. Approximately one minute later, two semi trucks drove around the vehicle.  

The driver was given instructions to exit the vehicle. The deputy noticed that the driver was an elderly male who appeared confused. Hinkle told the deputy that he was traveling from Idaho, where he was celebrating his mother's birthday. He said he left Wallace around 6:30 PM but was unable to account for his whereabouts during the prior 10 hours. He also said he was unaware that he was traveling the wrong way on the Interstate and that he observed the emergency lights and siren but thought the deputy was going after someone else.  

READ MORE: Missoula News - Crime Reports

The Sergeant took over the investigation, and Hinkle advised that his mother's birthday was on May 3rd and that he believed the current date was June 17th. The Sergeant advised that a major holiday had just occurred, and Hinkle realized it was July a few seconds later. According to court documents, Hinkle said he was tired.  

The Sergeant did not observe the odor of alcohol, but given Hinkle's driving pattern and statements made during the interaction, the decision was made to ask him to participate in standardized field sobriety tests. Henkel denied drinking and said he does not take medications, but did say he consumed THC gummies with his mother the day prior.  

Hinkle was instructed on the SFST's and the following indicators of impairment were observed: 0/6 HGN, 3/4 one leg stand, and the walk and turn was not completed. Hinkle was read the past advisory and provided a breath sample of .000. He was then read the implied consent advisory and agreed to provide a blood sample. He was transported to Saint Patrick Hospital, where a legal blood draw was completed. Then he was taken to jail. 

Hinkle is currently being charged with two counts of felony criminal endangerment. 

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