HELENA — Helena mayor and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Wilmot Collins has admitted in court to rear-ending another vehicle, but he is contesting a charge that he left the scene of the accident.
The Independent Record reports Collins appeared before Lewis and Clark County Justice of the Peace Mike Swingley on Tuesday over the May 20 accident. He pleaded guilty to careless driving and was fined $50 plus a $35 surcharge.
He pleaded not guilty to failure to remain at the scene. No trial date has been set on that misdemeanor charge.
Collins says he initially didn’t believe he hit the vehicle stopped in front of him and drove away. He pulled over after the other driver flagged him down.
The two drivers dispute who left first after Collins gave her his business card.